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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



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THE — SSirV 



A LIGHT-LINE CONNECTIVE-VOWEL SYSTEM OF SHORTHAND 

WRITTEN FROM PRINCIPLES WITHOUT THE USE 

OF WORD SIGNS OR CONTRACTIONS 

FOR 

Commercial, Political and Judicial 

RECORDING, 

AND IN ALL THOSE FIELDS OF LABOR WHICH DEMAND THE. 
HIGHEST DEGREE OF SPEED AND LEGIBILITY. 

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BY C. E. McKEE, , 

Principal Short- Hand Department of the 
College of Commerce, Bufealo, N. Y. 



Published by the 
BUFFALO PUBLISHING CO. 



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Copyrighted 1889 by 
C. E. McKee. 



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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 



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TRANSCRIPT. 

JMighty thou art, © magic pen, 
1 Fjou who dost serve the Wants of men; 
By rescuing golden thoughts from) spoil, 
<And saving the World from years of toil. 

THE AUTHOR. 



pWfaee. 



No apology need be offered for the appearance of the 
present work. The history of the past proves that a system 
of brief writing has been the demand of the ages. That that 
demand still exists is too obvious to even need assertion. 
When we realize what a small per cent, of the multitudes who 
yearly take up the study of short-hand, make a success of it, 
we begin to see and realize the need of improvement in this 
line of human achievement. This recognized necessity for a 
simple, practical system of brief writing, — one that can be 
learned and put into daily use, by the masses, without devot- 
ing years of study and practice to this one branch alone — is 
what inspired the author in his efforts to develop the present 
system. 

Says an eminent writer of recent date, " The formation 
of a really good system of short-hand has yet to be shown to 
the world." Whether the New Rapid fills this want or not is 
not for the author to say. Df one thing, however, he feels 
assured, — that the final success of any system depends upon 
true worth and merit. No amount of advertising, or high 
sounding statements, will render a worthless thing of practical 
value. And since experience has taught us that the best 
argument that can be put forth in favor of the New Rapid, is 
a knowledge of its merits, we feel that we have in some 
degree at least been successful in our efforts to found it upon 
true and lasting principles. It is to be hoped that it will not 
fall short of its object, namely : To secure a shorter road to 
Stenographic success ; to obtain greater legibility and speed, and 
lighten the labors of that ??iighty army that is daily growing in 
the skillful use of the pen. 



6 THE NEW RAPID. 

A glance will be sufficient, to enable one to see that the 
system is entirely different from those of the past, and that in 
it short-hand has been emancipated from the superstitions that 
have surrounded it from its birth to the present day. 

For the purpose of giving the reader some knowledge of 
the principles of this system, and its many superior advan- 
tages, we give a brief review of it in the introduction. In 
referring the reader to this we ask that it be read with a fair, 
impartial, and unbiased spirit. 

We think, aside from the principles of the system, there 
is much to commend the New Rapid, to those desiring to 
pursue the study of short-hand. The matter presented 
throughout the work has been carefully selected and graded. 
Unlike other systems, we have presented it in the form of 
Lessons. This arrangement will be of great assistance to the 
student. Whether it is pursued under an instructor or by 
home study, it enables the learner to take it up in its proper 
order. Each lesson is thoroughly mastered before going to 
the next, and as it contains a complete explanation of the 
subject in question, the student avoids the confusion arising 
from disconnected lessons. Everything belonging to a lesson 
is placed directly in connection with it, that the student may 
get the benefit of it just when it is needed. A list of ques- 
tions is added after each lesson, which enables the student to 
ascertain if everything passed over has been thoroughly 
mastered. They also serve as good test questions when a 
hasty review on theory is desired. 

Realizing that practice is what is necessary to render 
short-hand useful, we have presented a carefully selected list 
of words after each lesson. This enables the learner to get 
practice on those words that will tend to fix the principles of 
the lessons at hand, thoroughly in mind. The lists are so 



PREFACE. 7 

practical and comprehensive, that by the time the theory of 
the subject has been completed, the student will have acquired 
a large vocabulary of practical word forms. 

Realizing what a vast number of the young men and 
women who pursue the study of short-hand, have not the 
opportunity to secure the services of an instructor, we have 
aimed to make the book a teacher of itself. We hope that 
all those who pursue the study will find in it truth and beauty, 
and a lasting degree of satisfaction in its practice. 

With these few words of greeting, the system is com- 
mended to those whose labors it seeks to lessen, trusting that 
it may prove a faithful friend and servant, in all the fields of 
labor to which it may be called to administer. 

Buffalo, N. Y., Dec. 13, 1888. 



Ir^tpoelfciGtioi-), 



in which are set forth a few of the merits of The New Rapid, 
showing that the principles upon which it is founded are those 
that should govern a practical system of short-hand. 

The burning desire of the human mind for increased 
knowledge, and consequently for improvement, seems to be 
the progressive principle, propelling us onward and upward. 
Improvements follow improvements on all the inventions of 
the times. Perfection in the arts, the sciences and the 
numberless inventions of the age, is the one grand idea that 
fills the mind of the scientific world. 

The impossibilities of yesterday are probabilities to-day 
and possibilities to-morrow. The world is indeed moving 
onward and upward. But in her onward march, she has not 
forgotten the pen, — who, though "mightier than the sword," 
— with our present long-hand method of recording thought, 
needs facilities to aid in coping with the modern methods of 
living. In modern short-hand — The New Rapid — she has 
found this aid, which presents to the world an alphabet of 
letters so simple and facile, that even a child may learn to 
write. This method of writing is as wonderful as it is simple. 
By it, speech is recorded as it falls from the lips of the rapid 
speaker^ and thus the finest sentiments of the human soul, — 
as the poet says, — 

" Are transmitted to glowing pages, 
And handed down to future ages." 

What once meant to the literary man years of laborious 
toil, is now a pleasant task, requiring but a few weeks time for 
its completion. The man of business who formerly toiled all 



IO THE NEW RAPID. 

day at his desk, can to-day dispatch his correspondence in an 
hour's time. And instead of it being a miserable scrawl, im- 
possible to decipher, it appears in a neat type, as plain and 
legible as a printed book. 

A spark of truth, now kindled into a blaze, shoots forth 
its rays from an elevated light house, casting brilliant 
streams of light over a clouded stenographic world. As the 
effusion of spreading light breaks in upon the darkness, gilding 
the once blackened clouds of doubt and failure, from the 
advancing host " ring out in peals of accent loud and clear," 
Eureka ! Eureka ! 

Although the art of short-hand has done much in the 
past, yet its history shows that to those who have followed 
it, it has been very unsatisfactory. Years of study and 
practice, directed towards this one branch alone, was the 
only way it could be made available ; and even then 
without persistent practice, it was all forgotten in less, 
than one-tenth of the time it took to acquire it. The large 
percentage of those who have made a total failure of short- 
hand, even after earnest and determined effort, is sufficient to 
show that something better is wanted in this direction. The 
fact that even those who do master it thoroughly, seldom have 
confidence enough in its legibility to use it in recording 
thoughts for safe keeping, is enough to show why it has never 
come into practical everyday use. 

What the world is demanding to-day is a system that can 
be easily learned, is as legible as print, and can be written 
rapidly. Illegibility has been the most glaring defect of all 
systems of short-hand writing. This great deficiency, to- 
gether with others, so painfully realized by the author in past 
years, accounts for the existence of the New Rapid short- 
hand. In this we are fully justified in saying that a great 



INTRODUCTION. 1 1 

improvement has been made and that short-hand is now- 
placed upon a firmer and more practical basis than ever 
before. 

Since the New Rapid system is so much unlike others, we 
review briefly a few of its prominent features, — that the 
reader may become acquainted with the underlying principles 
and better understand why a new system of short-hand has 
been born, and is working such a mighty revolution throughout 
the civilized world. 

At the outset, we wish to say that" if you are a writer of 
some other system, we hope you will lay aside all prejudices 
and predilections, and judge candidly of the merits of the 
New Rapid. We say this, knowing how apt Stenographers 
are to consider the system they write, as the ne plus ultra of 
perfection, and bar out all facts that would tend to make it 
appear otherwise. All that is claimed for the New Rapid, can 
be fully and satisfactorily demonstrated ; and hence we ask 
that you reason candidly with yourself, while we explain 
briefly a few of its merits. 

The present system is the result of much study and 
research, coupled with the sincere belief that there are im- 
portant springs of truth yet unexplored, connected with the 
science of swift writing. The system has been perfected and 
brought to its high state of excellence, only through the firmly 
established principles, that govern so harmoniously all its parts. 

Over one year was spent in constructing and arranging 
the Phonographic Alphabet. To the inexperienced this may 
seem like an exorbitant waste of time and energy ; but there 
are many difficulties to be encountered in developing a system 
of writing that will record briefly and systematically, — and in 
such an easy, simple manner, — human speech as rapidly as it 
is spoken. 



12 THE NEW RAPID. 

The success of anything depends largely upon the foun- 
dation. Nowhere is this truer than in short-hand ; and as the 
alphabet is the foundation of the whole structure, it is neces- 
sary that it contain those elements that will conduce largely 
toward bringing the system as a whole into a high state of 
perfection. Realizing this, we have spared no pains to lay a 
foundation that will be simple, practical and complete. The 
philosophical arrangement of our alphabet, combined with the 
powerful contracting principles, is what enables us to secure 
such a remarkable degree of brevity without sacrificing 
legibility. 

J. M. Sloan, of England, author of Sloan-Dupioyan 
Short-hand, has truthfully said: " It does not require great 
intelligence to understand that the more powerful an alphabet 
is, the fewer abbreviations are required ; consequently more 
sounds are retained, which give extra legibility. " Since the 
alphabet forms the foundation and is of such vital importance 
to all the after-work, we here illustrate a few of its prominent 
features. 

One of the main characteristics of this system is the easy, 
running style of writing produced, and the great similarity it 
bears to long-hand. A writer of prominence has said : " The 
greatest perfection of long-hand consists in its free, easy style, 
and regularity of appearance." This is a recognized fact; and 
since the hand is accustomed to the long-hand style of 
writing, it is obvious that the nearer short-hand approaches 
this, the easier and more natural will it be in execution. 
Recognizing this as one of the essentials requisite to easy 
rapid writing, this system has been based upon the principles 
governing long-hand. Curves, instead of being parts of 
circles, are, as in long-hand, elliptical ; and the writing as a 
whole tends toward the right, producing an easy running style. 



INTRODUCTION. 1 3 

This similarity to long-hand is still further carried out by 
discarding the use of shaded characters. Too many shaded 
strokes renders the writing very difficult of execution. If in 
long-hand we should attempt to shade every downward stroke, 
which would be every other stroke, we would find it a very 
slow and laborious way of writing. Hence, the fewer shaded 
strokes employed the better. In view of this fact we have 
constructed an alphabet which practically does away with 
shading. This we consider in many ways a great improve- 
ment over former systems. In the *Pitmanic systems, every 
other letter is a shaded stroke. This of course necessitates a 
great amount of shading, which is antagonistic to easy rapid 
execution. 

But by other means equally important, we have succeeded 
in securing to a still larger degree that ease and grace in execu- 
tion which so characterizes the long-hand style of writing. 
This is accomplished by the manner in which certain letters 
are represented. 

In assigning values to the different strokes, the easiest 
and most facile outlines were selected to represent the most 
frequently recurring sounds. Thus s and z, which are found 
most frequently in the English language, are represented by 
horizontal strokes ; and t and d, which rank second, by right 
oblique strokes running the same as the strokes in long-hand, 
which can be struck either upwards or downwards. And so 
on throughout the alphabet — easy, facile strokes are utilized 
in representing frequently recurring sounds. This enables us, 
not only to write common phraseology with exceeding ease 



* By Pitmanic syetems is meant those systems which use the alphabet 
of consonants as arranged by Isaac Pitman, of England, in 1837. They 
are the Graham's, Munson's, Scott Browne's, Ben Pitman's, Burn's, etc. 



14 THE NEW RAPID. 

and facility, but it secures Imeality, one of the great essentials 
to easy rapid writing. 

In all the Pitmanic systems the most frequently recurring 
sounds in the language are, unfortunately, represented by the 
most difficult characters. For example, the s and z, and t 
and d, are expressed by perpendicular strokes, while other 
letters are represented by values wholly unsuited for easy join- 
ing and so impracticable that they necessitate the use of special 
hooks. Throughout the entire alphabet, practicability is 
wholly ignored. 

A perpendicular stroke, and especially a curved one, — 
such as represents the s and z in the Pitmanic systems — is the 
most difficult line it is possible to form. The hand in its right 
and left eliptical movements naturally conforms to the law of 
movement in long-hand, and rebels against all efforts to form 
a perpendicular stroke. In view of these facts we have virtu- 
ally discarded the use of perpendicular lines. This 
disuse of long perpendicular strokes and the values assigned to 
those easy in execution, is what renders the movements in the 
writing of the New Rapid, so much like that employed in 
long-hand. The result is that it can be written easily and 
rapidly, with but little practice as compared with those systems 
which employ so many complex outlines written in an upright 
manner. 

The disadvantages arising from the use of perpendicular 
strokes and especially to represent sounds of such frequent 
recurrence, are more fully realized when we know what long, 
irregular and difficult outlines are produced in writing. 

To illustrate this point we give a line of words in which 
perpendicular strokes occur as written in the Pitmanic systems. 
The first line is the Pitmanic writing and the second that of 
the New Rapid. Observe not only the absence of perpen- 



INTRODUCTION. 1 5 

diminution dutiful personification vestibule form demonstration Voltaire 




\ / <— -7? ^ ^ 



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dicular strokes in the writing of the New Rapid, but also the 
great degree in which brevity and lineality is secured. It is 
also proper to remark that the writing of the New Rapid is 
much more legible than that of the Pitmanic. 

Next we desire to make mention of the simple and prac- 
tical manner in which all words are written. They are not, 
as in other systems, committed as word forms and contractions, 
but are written from principle as in long-hand. It might 
appear to a casual observer, that in this way, a degree of 
brevity equal to other systems would not be secured. But the 
fact is there is not a system in existence that can cope with 
the New Rapid in securing brevity, and yet so successfully 
retain the legibility. 

By this simple, practical manner of writing, the reporter 
is enabled to write any word, by applying the underlying 
principles, and is not as in other systems, compelled to resort 
to a phonographic dictionary, for the writing of every new 
word that comes up. It would be just as reasonable for a 
student to attempt to commit the solution and answer of the 
numberless problems in mathematics, when by understanding 
a few underlying principles, he could solve any problem that 
might be proposed. 

That word-signs and arbitrary contractions, are detri- 
mental to a system of short-hand, needs no argument to 
prove. The writers of all systems realize this. Late works 
on the Pitmanic systems show that authors are trying to lessen 



1 6 THE NEW RAPID. 

these signs in number. But the result of their efforts, in this 
direction is very unsatisfactory. The fundamental principles 
of the Pitmanic systems are such that it is impossible to secure 
sufficient brevity by writing from principle. Hence the use of 
word-signs and contractions, in these systems, is by no means 
a choice, but a necessity. It is obvious, too, that by the new 
method a great amount of time and labor is saved. The most 
arduous task found in connection with the study of short-hand 
has been the memorizing of the countless number of word- 
signs and contractions. This old method of memorizing 
word-signs and contractions by the hundreds has been found 
too slow and laborious, and has consequently given way to the 
more modern and practical method, viz. : that of writing from 
principle, instead of arbitrary signs. The fulness of the 
writing and the close resemblance that the movement bears to 
long-hand is the crowning feature of the New Rapid. 

The next subject in order of importance, is, that this is a 
connective vowel system. That is, vowels are expressed by 
strokes the same as consonants, and words are written without 
lifting the pen. This is one of the distinguishing features of 
this system, — one which promotes facility in writing and legi- 
bility in reading. In the Pitmanic systems, vowels are ex- 
pressed by dots and dashes placed in a certain position after 
the consonants are written, but in order to obtain speed suffi- 
cient for even moderate writing, the writer finds it impossible 
to go back after writing every word, and add one, two and 
sometimes three dote or dashes of a certain size, and in a 
certain position. Hence the vowels must be omitted, and are 
used only on an average of about once in seventy-five words. 
The result is, the writer is not only left to read his notes 
without vowels, which are as essential to legibility as conso- 
nants, but is compelled to go through the long and arduous 



INTRODUCTION. 1 7 

task of learning what is known in those systems as "vocali- 
zation" and "revocalization," all of which must be practically 
abandoned when he enters the field of actual practice. The 
expediency of connective vowel strokes is apparent to every- 
body. The writing of words in a broken and disconnected 
manner is wholly un philosophical. 

In matter of speed acquired by connective strokes we 
quote the language of an eminent writer, on the disadvantages 
of pen-lifting: "The act of pen-lifting is quite complex. 
In addition to lifting the pen, moving it along a little space,, 
and re-applying it to the paper, there are the mental acts of 
ending one word and beginning another. Of course all these 
processes may be executed quickly ; but time is time, it is not 
easy to estimate a point like this ; but probably a pen-lifting 
requires as much time as the writing of two strokes, possibly 
three. One pen-lifting, it is true, even estimated as above, 
does not require much time ; but many hundreds or thousands 
occurring in close succession are a very serious draw-back. 
Hence anything that reduces the number of pen-liftings is 
very favorable to high speed." We take great pleasure in 
quoting the above lines, as they are from the pen of one of the 
most able Pitmatic writers in this country. They were written 
referring particularly to phrase-writing, showing the advantages, 
to be gained in a system of short-hand by connecting words. 
These words do not lack in weight and meaning. If it 
is advantageous to combine different words, how much more 
so is it, to write simple words themselves without lifting the 
pen. Had these words even been directed in particular at the 
Pitmanic manner of writing vowels, they could not have struck a 
more severe blow at the very foundation of these systems. 
The sterling truth of such words are recognized by all ex- 
perienced writers. But for a writer of these systems to admit 



tS the new rapid. 

them, is to strike a blow at the most glaring defect in 
Phonography. 

In matter of legibility, we quote from the English writer, 
J. M. Sloan. He says : "I maintain that no system can be 
legible that does not either insert or indicate the vowel in its 
exact position in every word." These words do not need 
commenting upon. Their truth is self-evident. 

This question of illegibility, and loss of speed resulting 
from disconnected vowels brings us to the subject of Vowel 
Position, which in this system differs very radically from the 
Pitmanic. The complex and uncertain manner of using 
position in these systems of Phonography has led some to 
ask if they were not really of more hindrance than assistance. 
And reasonably may they make such inquiries ; for each posi- 
tion is assigned four or five different sounds, which are taken 
from as many different vowels. For example, a consonant 
.stroke written on what is called the first position might 
express broad a, long e, short i, short o, long i, or oi. In 
reading, the context must determine which of these vowels is 
to be used, and also the place it occupies in the word ; for in 
most cases there is nothing to show whether the words begin 
with a vowel or consonant, or where the vowel is located. 
The result of such indefinite and uncertain writing is that a 
half dozen different words are frequently expressed by the 
same outline. In this particular point the Pitmanic systems 
could not possibly be more deficient. What few vowels that 
are even expressed by positions are so indefinite that they are 
about as bad as none at all. In the New Rapid system no 
room for such confusion is allowed. Each position is assigned 
but one vowel, and the place that vowel occupies in the word 
is an absolute certainty. And further, instead of the vowel 
positions being a scale of conglomerate sounds, they are 



INTRODUCTION. 1 9 

arranged in their natural alphabetical order. This method of 
position is so simple that students learn, and are able to use 
it, with but a few minutes study. But what is equally perplex- 
ing to the students of the Graham, Pitman, and other systems 
is, that they are not taught the subject of position until they 
have become perfectly familiar with all the principles. Then 
just as the learner is beginning to write easily, and has a 
settled form of writing, he is ushered into the mysterious 
realm of position, where invisible a, e, i, o, i, and oi, are all 
placed on one position. Here he is compelled to unlearn a 
great deal of what has already been acquired, by writing words 
differently and on position. The same can be said of word- 
signs and contractions. There being such a large number of 
these, they are left until the learner has mastered most of the 
principles of the system. Here he learns one way to write 
these words, but in order to gain sufficient speed, he must now 
commit brief signs for the representation of hundreds of 
words and thousands of contractions. 

Any system of instruction, which teaches in one lesson 
that which must necessarily be abandoned in the next, is 
certainly far from being founded upon rational principles. In 
the New Rapid the student learns things in the beginning just 
as they will be, when carried into practice. Not a single word 
form is taught, in any part of the work that will be changed 
later on. It is surprising how indelibly forms first committed 
are stamped upon the memory ; and to attempt to forget the 
old, and learn a new, must end in utter confusion. It is at 
this point that so many have in the past dropped the study of 
short-hand, dissatisfied and discouraged with its multitudinous 
perplexities. The elimination of this fault so common to 
other systems is a principle of which the New Rapid can justly 
feel proud. 



20 THE NEW RAPID. 

Another fact well worth mentioning, wherein this system 
differs from others, is that the q, and x, have each a character 
of their own. The Pitmanic systems have no x or q but use 
ks for x and kw for q. This manner of writing these letters 
requires two strokes to express, what is represented in English 
by one letter. Besides the inconvenience in writing and 
reading, they are the most difficult combinations to analyze 
phonetically that the student meets with in all his study. Who 
is there who does not find it difficult at first to perceive that 
in x there are the sounds of k and s, or in q trie sounds k and 
w? Since these sounds are so closely united and represented 
in English by one letter, it is found much easier both in 
reading and writing short-hand, to have them represented by 
one simple stroke. But the most perplexing part of all of it 
is that in reading, one could not tell whether the ks stood for 
x, kis kes, oks oaks, aks kas, or any other similar combi- 
nation. And further, when it comes to the matter of saving 
time in writing (which is the sole aim of short-hand), the 
manner in which they are written is of no small consequence. 
To illustrate this in point of brevity, we give below a few 
words as written in other systems. The first line is the 
Pitmanic manner of writing these words, and the second line 
that of the New Rapid. 

exposed exemplify examine extent examination experiment 



The writing of these words in this system is not only 
briefer, but much more legible than the Pitmanic, since 
they contain all the sounds in the words. And these words 



INTRODUCTION. 2 1 

are by no means exceptions. The letters q and x should not 
be separated into their elements, and written thus, any more 
than the diphthongs or double consonants. 

And even further, to say nothing of the gain in legibility 
and brevity, words in this system are represented by much 
more facile outlines than in others. Such difficult, irregular 
outlines as are seen in some of the words given above can not 
be found in the whole realm of the New Rapid short-hand 
writing. It will thus be seen that there is everything in favor 
•of expressing the q and x as they are in this system, while by 
the old method not a single point is gained. 

Another important and distinctive feature of this system 
is the remarkable degree in which analogy is preserved in the 
writing of primitive and derivative words. This is a subject 
of vital importance to the short-hand writer and which has 
Unfortunately been overlooked by former authors. For ex- 
ample, when we learn how to write the word educate, it is 
obvious that upon rational principles all derivatives, such as 
educated, education, educational, should be written in a 
similar manner, at least as far as the sounds are alike. 

In some systems the derivatives of such words are so 
entirely changed in outline from the primitive that no simi- 
larity whatever is traceable. This necessitates learning forms 
wholly unlike one another for the purpose of expressing words 
closely allied not only in sound, but also in meaning. This 
method sets all law at defiance and results in utter confusion, 
both in writing and reading. But there is another class of 
derivatives known as negatives, in distinction from positive, 
the writing of which is even more important, since there is 
such a great difference in meaning, yet such a similarity in 
sound. In this class of words the positive is the primitive and 
the negative word the derivative. For example, the w T ords 



2 2 THE NEW RAPID. 

legal, moral, and content are positive, while illegal, immoral, 
and disconte?it are the negatives. Of this class of words there 
is a very large number in practical use ; and since the main 
parts of the words are alike in sound, yet just the opposite in 
meaning, it is necessary in observing the laws of analogy, to 
have their outline, in the main, similar; and yet, for the sake 
of legibility, a difference should be unmistakably expressed. 
In this system all these requirements are met, and the result is 
that the most difficult words the stenographer meets with in 
other systems, are, in this, written by one simple rule, which 
can be told in less than a dozen words. They are also written 
with a brevity and legibility unparalleled. 

But perhaps the reader is not aware of the immense 
amount of labor and practice that is saved by our method of 
writing these words. A large per cent, of the English language 
is composed of derivative words. In other systems, where 
these are written at variance to all law, and their difference 
expressed arbitrarily, it is necessary to learn each and every 
word or sign separately. When written as in this system, 
which is wholly unlike all others in this respect, the writer 
learns only the primitive or positive word, and the writing of 
the derivative or negative is as easy and natural as is the defin- 
ing of derivative words when we know the primitive. Thus 
all that is necessary, is to be able to write the primitive. The 
derivative, which is but a slight modification of the same 
word, can be written without previous practice and on the 
spur of the moment. This saves the stenographer the learning 
of hundreds of word-forms, and writes them easily and legibly 
in accordance with the fundamental law of the system — -from 
principle. 

Another point well worth mentioning, is the manner in 
which all coalescents are written. In the English language 



INTRODUCTION. 23 

there are nearly thirty double consonants, occurring aspr in 
pray, bl in blame, spin spy, etc. The writing of these in 
most systems is very complex and uncertain, as the learner is 
compelled to commit new forms for the representation of 
many of these coalescents. To conform to rule and be in 
any way consistent, with the writing of the separate letters of 
which they are composed, they should be expressed by some 
simple modification of one or more of these letters rather 
than by new characters bearing no relation whatever. This 
system fully accomplishes this and writes all coalescents in 
accordance with the laws of analogy, and from principles 
which can be explained, and comprehended by a mere be- 
ginner in a few minutes time. 

Thus it will be observed that the intricately, and 
judicially constructed alphabet, is the foundation to the whole 
structure. No new and complex characters are introduced at 
different stages of the work, but instead, the system is built 
up scientifically from a phonographic alphabet. We believe 
this to be the true foundation, upon which all systems should 
be developed. It is reasonable, it is practical, it is in keeping 
with the development of other sciences. 

Another merit common only to this system is the fact 
that every letter or sound has a distinct and separate character 
of its own. Each character is allowed to stand for but one 
sound, and is never used for any other. In the Pitmanic 
systems a hook has seven different values. That is, a hook 
turned at the beginning of a stroke adds an r. Turned on 
the opposite side it adds an 1. A similar hook written after 
certain strokes represents n. Written after still another class 
of letters it stands for the ending five. After still another 
class of letters it represents f or v. Turned on other particu- 
lar letters a trifle larger and it expresses w, and the same hook 



24 THE NEW RAPID. 

after any stroke expresses the common termination shun. 
No wonder the common saying among Stenographers to 
beginners was : "If you don't get stuck on the hooks you 
are all right." It does not require much intelligence to see 
that such a multitude of different values assigned to the same 
character, even though changed a trifle in shape or size, would 
end in utter confusion. This is one of the most common 
defects of short-hand systems. Even those, which aim to 
write more from principles — Porter's, Eclectic, Pernin, 
Bishop's and Sloan-DuPloyan — fall into the same error. They 
not only allow the same characters to represent different sounds, 
but introduce at various stages new characters, almost, if not 
altogether, identical with those already given which are 
allowed to represent different letters or combinations of 
letters. Especially is this true of what is known as the 
Eclectic system. Characters already utilized in the repre- 
sentation of sounds are used for whole syllables which have 
no relation or dependence whatever upon the original value 
assigned. The Eclectic and Sloan-DuPloyan abound with 
these arbitary and deficient methods of securing brevity. 

The Eclectic system claims to write from principle, but 
when all that is really arbitrary is stricken from it, there is little 
left of what can be called principle. It is without doubt one of 
the most illegible systems in existence. Every sound in the 
language is assigned a position and the result is, to conform 
to the fundamental' principles, every word in the language 
must be written on a particular position. Since it has been 
found impossible to secure speed, from the use of so much 
position, phrasing has been introduced, which necessarily 
abandons the use of position in so far as it is employed, and 
defeats the very purpose of the fundamental principle of the 
system. It has one merit, however, for which it should 



INTRODUCTION. 25 

receive credit, and that is, the running style of writing that 
is produced. 

The utter illegibility of short-hand systems of the past, without 
some clue to the subject matter, is what has rendered short- 
hand of so little value in practical everyday use. The motto 
of the New Rapid from the beginning to the end is, legibility. 

As further conducing toward perfect legibility is the fact 
that in this system the writing runs to the right, producing 
perfect lineality, and can be written on the different positions 
without occupying more than one-half of the space perpen- 
dicularily that it does in the Pitmanic systems. Experienced 
writers will see at a moment's glance, what great advantages 
are derived from this easy continuous style of writing. A 
lack of this in other systems is, as all know, the most serious 
drawback in gaining speed, and the very reason why phrasing 
— a go-as-you-please style — must be resorted to. 

Since the word Phonography means writing by sound, it 
is generally supposed that these systems styled Phonographic 
systems, more properly called, however, Pitmanic systems, 
write phononetically. But it is as far from being the case as 
day is from night. True, they have material by which words 
may be written out phonetically, but when put to practical 
use, this is found wholly impossible. Not one word in a 
hundred is written phonetically. The very foundation of 
the systems will not permit it. Their disconnected vowels, 
with complex and indefinite positions, together with sound 
value unsuited for contractions of frequent recurrence, make 
the subject of phonetic writing, owing to a lack of brevity, 
^wholly impossible. We mention this to show that although 
this system is not called Phonography, it comes nearer the 
meaning of the term, practically, than any of these so-called 
.svstems. 



26 THE NEW RAPID. 

This is perhaps more forcibly realized when we remember 
that in many cases one outline is used for a half dozen differ- 
ent words. In some of these systems words as far apart in 
sound and meaning, as had, dollar, do, defendant and did, are 
all written with the same outline. In the Pitmanic systems 
the following twenty-nine words : creature, occurred, court, 
cared, accurate, curried, cured, cord, chord, accord, according, 
crate, crowd, acrid, crout, card, cart, carried, accrued, occured, 
cui't, curd, euchred, coward, cried, caret, accrete, crowed and 
crude, are all written with the same outline ; while those 
systems called practical Phonographic systems, which omit 
the shade, would add the following eighteen words to the 
above list : gored, gourd, great, grate, grade, girt, gird, 
grout, groat, greet, greed, agreed \ augured, grot, geared, 
garret, grit and guard. This would make a total of forty- 
seven different words, all of which are written from the same 
outline. And what is still more absurd -is the fact that many 
of these words have no similarity of sound whatever, and yet 
they are written by systems called Phonographic systems. 
These illustrations show how utterly Phonography fails, prac- 
tically in being consistent with the name its writers so highly 
worship, and so earnestly covet. 

In the face of all these glaring deficiencies is it any 
wonder that such statements as the following emanate from 
the very writers of these impracticable systems: " In so far 
as American short-hand is built upon the Pitmanic foun- 
dation, I wish to point out that it is necessarily mixed up with 
the most absurdly unpracticable notions with which an essen- 
tially practical art was ever encumbered." 

That the truth of our statements as to the relative merits 
of the New Rapid may be more apparent, we give illustrations 
of short-hand writing by the standard Pitmanic systems of to- 



INTRODUCTION. 27 

dav, The following sentence is taken from Graham's text- 
book as written by himself in the briefest reporting style 
which that system affords : 

u ~i p c v { ; 1 

_4 cn L 



^ 



\y ^ 



/ 
The writing of the above sentence is quite brief, but as to 

legibility it is perfectly ridiculous. It would be impossible to 

read it even if written out in long-hand. That the reader 

may see why this is so, we give the sentence in print as spelled 

and phrased above in short-hand. It is as follows: tmp pnf 

dl ths njshun onthe dstrstng pktr oiwnndvd bt mlt t tnthts s 

ou ch ofallt/isdsfrs sbnhpt g onasng fid. 

The person who can make out a half dozen of the above 
words is certainly entitled to a high rank in the clairvoyant 
field. It is impossible even to get any idea of what is intended 
to be expressed. Those few short words printed in heavy face 
type are the only ones that can be read and they are repre- 
sented by special characters, and hence in so far as being 
founded upon the alphabet and written from principles they 
represent nothing at all. 

The New Rapid writes the above sentence out in full as 
follows : 

I — i ^ *s j ^ o^- ^ 

The above writing represents all the principle sounds in 
the sentence. That this may be contrasted with the Graham 



28 THE NEW RAPID. 

writing, we give the sentence in print as written in the New 
Rapid. It is as follows : // ma be panfl to dwel thus in 
imagnshn onthe distresing pikr of wun individl but multply it 
tenthousand Urns sa how much of all this distres hasbeen hept 
togthr ona sing I 'fold. 

The writing of this sentence in this system is not only 
briefer and more legible than the Graham but in all those 
essentials requisite to rapid writing it stands first. 

Although the gain in brevity is great, yet this is small in 
comparison with other existing qualities in favor of the New 
Rapid. As written in the Graham's it contains nineteen 
angles, while as written in the New Rapid it contains but six. 
Graham's writing contains thirteen full shaded strokes, while 
the New Rapid employs but three minor shades. The Graham 
writing contains sixteen perpendicular outlines, the New Rapid 
contains but one. The Graham writing contains fifteen word- 
signs, the New Rapid two. The Graham writing is contracted, 
phrased, and jumbled together until it is wholly illegible 
reading from principle. The New Rapid is written out con- 
taining nearly every sound in the sentence. All of these 
fundamental requisites to successful and easy writing are illus- 
trated and their merits shown to be phenominally in favor of 
the New Rapid in a sentence of but thirty-seven words. 

• Following is a sentence taken from Munson's text-book, 
page 187, which is reproduced exactly as written by the 
author. 



INTRODUCTION. 



29 



7L 



Q_V 



^- 



^=^ 



c^ 



Hr-tr 



A 



-*br 



P 



"X" 



This sentence is written out in full in the New Rapid as 
follows : 



jH^_ 



oL 



2 



/*=> 



^nT 



J- 



6 



l^D 



~7^ 



e 



-^fh 



The above is translated as follows : The adult and sane 
testator may bequeath his property to whom he will, with the 
important qualification that he can not give it to a donee incom- 
petent to take or trammel it with trusts or restrictions which 
the statute forbids. 

Munson's writing of this sentence contains seventy-five 
characters, while in the New Rapid it is written in full with 
but fifty-seven characters. 

In this one sentence Munson employs eighteen perpen- 
dicular strokes. The New Rapid employs but one, and that 
a minute tick. 

The gre^t gain in this system over others is more striking 
when we realize what they would amount to in the course of 
a sermon or lecture. 



3° 



THE NEW RAPID. 



In taking down an address of less than forty minutes 
length, there would be a gain in the New Rapid of at least 
fifteen -J] undred characters. 

There would be at least eighteen-hundred angles less 
than in others. The New Rapid would gain over two- 
thousand perpendicular strokes, fourteen-hundred shaded 
strokes and eighteen-hundred word-signs, to say nothing 
of the great gain in legibility. 

Before leaving this subject we desire to illustrate one more 
point. As compared with other systems the New Rapid makes 
very little use of phrasing. The writing in this system is more 
capable of successful phrasing than in the majority of others, 
but since its use is so detrimental to legibility, and since even 
without it this system is capable of a higher rate of speed than 
others, the New Rapid takes pride in being able to avoid this 
dangerous ground. 

The following phrases, taken from Pitman's Companion, 
illustrate how illegible writing becomes when phrased, and 
that even by its use other systems can not compete with the 
New Rapid in securing brevity. The first line is the Pitmanic 
writing and the second that of the New Rapid. 



ofcrstsnssrthtsJid 




J -e> 



"\ 



Ii7isrtnthtyr 



r\ 



tsntthtchsmsmstlkl 




r\ 



^ 



vfcors itis necesty thatthr I am sertn that your 
shud. 



itis not that which seems 
most likely 



The italic letters above and below show the sounds repre- 
sented by the writing in the respective systems. 



INTRODUCTION. 3 1 

It will be observed that the New Rapid writing is not only 
much more legible, but that it is also briefer in outline. The 
Pitman writing employs thirty-two strokes, the New Rapid 
twenty-seven. But even this is not all ; phrasing is a study of 
itself which requires weeks of practice in order to make any 
practical use of it. In this system all this time is saved 
and in the end the writer has the assurance of knowing that he 
can read his notes. 

We regret that time and space will not permit us to speak 
further in regard to the relative merits of the New Rapid. 
Though extended as our remarks may appear, they contain 
little in comparison with what could be easily said in favor of 
the principles embodied in the New Rapid. Not only have 
many points been omitted, but even those mentioned were 
quickly r passed over, and but partially developed. The rest 
we leave for those who have the time and inclination to 
acquaint themselves more fully with its merits. That which 
has already been said, we hope, will inspire the learner to in- 
quire further into its many hidden beauties, and induce him 
to master this study which is so useful in all the avocations 
of life. 

We cannot close without quoting a few lines from D. S. 
Davies, of England, who has spent a quarter of a century in 
the study of the fundamental requisites to a system of short- 
hand. He says : " I have come to the conclusion, that the 
short-hand of the future will necessarily be based on the ordi- 
nary roman long-hand ; that this beautiful writing contains 
much greater power than the geometric basis, which has been 
the basis of all English and American short-hand systems 
until very recently. 

"All the necessary vowel sounds will be described in 
their natural order without lifting the pen. Present systems 



32 THE NEW RAPID. 

generally write the consonants first, and afterwards peg around 
them the vowels. This I think, is their fundamental error. 

" Word-signs or grammalogues will be avoided. 

"The short-hand alphabet must be itself short, so that 
there would not be much need of shortening afterwards. ' ' 

These are sterling words from one who knows whereof 
he speaks. Similar prevailing opinions among the Steno- 
graphers of to-day could be given. But these are sufficient. 
They spring from a reliable source and run as parallel to the 
principles of the New Rapid as is possible for theory and 
practice to be united. 

In our remarks we have been compelled through a sense 
of justice, to make comparisons with other systems. In doing 
so, however, we have aimed to show them in their true light. 
It has not been our wish or intention to underrate the value 
of former systems. 

The invention of Phonography in 1837 marked a new 
era in Stenographic work. The great change it brought about 
in short-hand is admired by all. But, as Edward Pocknell 
has said, " We are not going to stop at Phonography." It 
will soon be like the sickle and spinning wheel, a thing of the 
past. We say this on good grounds, and with a firm belief in its 
truth. The signs of the times is pointing towards it. Nor 
is it a mere matter of chance, or the world's desire for some- 
thing new ; but on the contrary the change and drift of the 
times has a just and definable reason. The foundation of the 
Pitmanic systems is wrong. This is becoming a recognized fact. 

The present system is not claimed to be the ultima thule 
to which improvement can be carried. But the points herein 
briefly mentioned are merits which we do claim, are, in the 
light of science, improvements in the right direction. They 
fall in line with the chain of improvements in other fields, 



INTRODUCTION. 33 

that mark the progress of human achievement in this, the 
nineteenth century. Xo present system can show such sim- 
plicity in all its parts. It may be said of it as of nature, — 
harmony reigns supreme. 

In the light of even these few briefly stated facts, may it 
not be said, and justly, that we have been remarkably success- 
ful in removing the recognized objectionable features of its 
predecessors, and placing it upon a firm and practical basis. 

We are not of that number who, because of their own 
achievements, disregard the opinions of others. 

On the contrary we rejoice to hear the notes of reform 
and improvement, and heartily contend for truth and right. 
We hope the time will soon come when in this art as 
well as in science and religion, we will march in the van of 
one mighty column, — keeping time with the music of the 
spheres, and guided as they, by the Author and Designer of 
Life. 



(Suggestion!) to tfee (Student. 

If the student has read the preceding introduction care- 
fully, and obtained a clear idea of the fundamental principles 
governing the system, the following Lessons will be easy, and 
readily understood. Every hour given to practice and study, 
will come laden with a rich reward of satisfaction, as the 
student sees himself progressing from the slow and cumber- 
some style of long-hand, to the mastery of one so swift, use- 
ful, and beautiful. 

It is very important that the student form correct habits 
at the beginning of his study and practice. He should 
attempt but one thing at a time, and master it completely. 
To make a practical use of short-hand it is necessary to prac- 
tice every principle over and over until all words coming 
under it, can be written without the least hesitancy. More 
Stenographers fail to become proficient from a neglect of 
practice, than from any thing else. 

The author has spared no pains to give everything in the 
following lessons that is necessary to a complete mastery of 
the system. Large and comprehensive lists of practical words 
have been introduced in connection with each lesson for the 
purpose of developing and securing familiarity with the prin- 
ciples. The mastery of the writing of these is the corner- 
stone to success, and the student should exercise the greatest 
pains to accomplish this end. The lists are so comlete that 
perfect familiarity with their writing will enable the student 
to write and read readily from a large vocabulary. 

That practice makes perfect, is truer in short-hand than 
in any other branch of study. As in learning to write long- 
hand, however, the practice must be directed to a definite and 
specific purpose. The shortest road to the mastery of short- 
hand is by intelligent, persevering practice. 



SUGGESTIONS TO THE STUDENT. $$ 

The beginner should make haste slowly. That is, in 
practice, strive to make all strokes well, and not to leave a 
lesson until it is thoroughly mastered. A high rate of speed 
in writing comes as a result of familiarity gained by repeated 
practice. Xot that a slow dragging movement should be 
used, but on the contrary every stroke should be formed from 
the beginning as quickly as is consistent with good form. 

Do not become discouraged. Remember you are learn- 
ing an entirely new system of writing, and you should not 
expect to learn it in a few short lessons. "Rome was not 
built in a day." Xor should you expect to reach the summit 
of stenographic success by one single effort. 

Beginners are not apt to realize the importance of 
securing brief outlines for words, since short-hand, even in 
its elementary lessons, is so much briefer than long-hand. It 
should be remembered however that anything that will save 
pen-movements will enable the writer to write with a higher 
rate of speed, and by virtue of the brevity write better and 
more legibly. Hence, when words capable of being written 
more than one way, present themselves, they should be ex- 
pressed in the shortest possible form consistent with legibility. 

One of the chief advantages of the Xew Rapid is that all. 
words are formed by definite rules, and hence they can be 
written and read successfully just in proportion to the 
thoroughness of which the governing principles are under- 
stood. Let your motto be, "One thing at a time and that 
well." 

The student should cultivate the habit of inquiring into 
the why's and wherefore's of every principle. If this is done, 
and the object and purpose of everything thoroughly under- 
stood, the pupil holds the key which unlocks the hidden 
beauties in this unique and practical system of short-hand. 



ppir-)Giplei>. 



First. — One of the fundamental principles of short-hand 
is a simplified alphabet. The characters which represent the 
different sounds are taken from straight and curved lines, 
which are written in three main directions. 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



The curved strokes are, as in long-hand, parts of ellipses. 



ILL USTRA TIONS. 



There are three classes of letters, long, short and su?'face 
characters. 



ILL USTRA TIONS. 
Long. 



Short. 



Surface. 
/? U O tf C D 



PHONOGRAPHIC ALPHABET. 



s 


•7 


Tu 


Sh. 


Wh 





V_^ 


^\ 


C 


D 


seal 


zeal 


the 


rusTi 


iv h en 



Consonants. 

pBTDChJ K G 

\. /? / I I ^ cy 

pay &ay toll doll cftoke joke cab grab 

P V 

/an wan 

L R ^r N ^g Q x 

fay ray moon noon rinfli ffMiU ea;c: 

W Y K 

?i-ay j/ea Tie 

Vowels. 

a e ion 

•- ~\ _^ \ ^ 

a e j od i 



Hphtliongs. 



v a 

bo# ^ ow 



38 THE NEW RAPID. 



PRACTICAL PHONOGRAPHIC ALPHABET. 



Second. — Another principle, of no less importance, is 
Phonetic Spelling, i. e., spelling by sound. The English 
language contains about forty practical elementary sounds ; 
and since words are written phonetically, it is necessary to 
have a character to represent each sound. 

On the page to the right will be found the complete 
Phonographic Alphabet. This contains all the different 
characters that are used throughout the system, which are 
assigned to the sounds of the language in such a manner as 
to secure speed, legibility and simplicity in their highest 
degree. 

It will be observed that the difference between long and 
short vowels is the slant and length. The long vowels are 
written upwards, and consequently a trifle longer and more 
slanting than the short vowels, which are written downwards. 
This is a result of the law of movement ; and hence it should 
be borne in mind, that upward strokes are always longer and 
more slanting than the downward strokes. 

It will be seen by the complete alphabet on the right hand 
page that /and s have each two different forms. This is for the 
purpose of facilitating the joining of letters and securing more 
powerful contractions, since these letters are so frequent in 
occurrence. The c and s are written alike, excepting a slight 
increase in the curvature of c. Hard c always has the sound 
■of k. Soft e has the sound of s, as in since (sins) ; hence c 
proper is never used excepting when it stands alone as an 
initial letter in names or as an abbreviation. 



PRINCIPLES. 39 

COMPLETE PHONOGRAPHIC ALPHABET 

CONTAINING ALL OF THE CHARACTERS. 



k 



\ ' \ 

t v. u 

/ ^- L 

Z Oil i 

^-^ A V 
th ng 



a 


a 


b 


c 


cl 




r 


S) 


v_y 


/ 


f 


9 


Ji 


i 


i 


-~\ 


(J 


^~~ 


_^ 


J 


I 


I 

/9 


m 


n 






\ o 

y.' x 



eft sh wfi 

I C D 



DIRECTION OF STROKES. 



It is very important that the student learn at the outset 
the proper direction of writing each character. The h and w 
are written upwards while the y and q are drawn downwards. 

The a, i, t and d are generally drawn downwards. All 
other characters are drawn to the right in the easiest possible 
manner. 

These characters should be practiced over and over 
until the learner can write the entire alphabet correctly 
without referring to a copy at the rate of two alphabets per 
minute. 



4-0 THE NEW RAPID. 

PEN-HOLDING. 



The pen or pencil should be held in an easy, natural 
manner. The movement employed in this system is so simi- 
lar to that of long-hand that the same position of the pen or 
pencil can be used with perfect freedom. It is not necessary, 
however, that the holder points over the right shoulder as in 
long-hand, but may be allowed to run on a line with the arm. 
This enables the writer to shade a stroke in any direction with 
an equal degree of facility. In writing with the pen, shading 
will be found easier if the face of the pen is rolled a trifle 
towards the body, or held between the first and second fingers, 
so that the letters d said p can be shaded at any point without 
changing the position, thus : 

/ / / X \ . s. 

If the stenographic lead pencil is used, by the use of 
which an upward stroke can be shaded with almost the same 
facility as the downward, it matters little as to just how the 
pencil is held so long as the main position of the body, hand 
and paper is an easy natural one, — one that will allow the arm to 
pass rapidly across the paper without tiring. Some writers 
prefer holding the pen or pencil between the first and second 
fingers. Some advantages in shading are to be gained by this 
position ; but it prevents, to some degree, a free action of the 
hand, and should be used only by those who find that even in 
very rapid work they can produce equally as good form as 
with the common long-hand position. 



PRINCIPLES. 41 

FORMATION OF CHARACTERS. 



The student should strive from the beginning to form 
letters well. The legibility of the New Rapid short-hand 
depends entirely upon the degree of correctness with which 
the characters are formed. It is not so particular as to the 
exact length or size of the characters, so long as the relative 
length or size is preserved. If the short letters are written as 
in the plates, }i of an inch in length, then the long letters 
should be correspondingly enough longer to render the two 
classes perfectly legible. 

Each student should write, in some degree at least, such a 
style as comes natural to his hand. In short-hand the two 
great points to be gained are speed and legibility ; hence, to 
attain these in the highest degree, first of all the hand-writing 
executed must be a natural one. Care must be taken, however, 
not to go to the extremes. If one writes a very large hand, he 
should try and reduce it a trifle in size, and vice versa. The 
size used in the plates is a medium one, well adapted to all 
kinds of work ; and it will be well for the beginner to copy 
after this style during his early practice. 

It will be observed that the surface characters b and g are 
taken from the small letter n in long-hand, the b being the 
first part and the g the last part. Many other letters can be 
memorized and written advantageously by associating them 
with the long-hand alphabet, upon which the system is founded. 
The /, for example, is taken from the first stroke of the i in 
long-hand. Also, the short-hand character for a is taken from 
the first stroke of the a in long-hand. 



42 THE NEW RAPID. 



COMBINING LETTERS. 



Characters are combined in the easiest, natural manner. 
Those which require any particular direction were explained 
on page 39. 

The letter /, which is similar to a cipher, is generally 
turned on the preceding or following character. Thus it will 
be observed that one-half of the letter / is already made in 
forming the stroke on which it is turned. The learner should 
form the habit of making the / very narrow. It can, when 
thus formed, be written much faster. It is less likely to look 
like the circle s, and presents a neater appearance. 

The circle s is turned on other characters the same as the 
/. It is turned on the inside of curves, on the left hand side 
of the descending and ascending straight lines, and on the 
upper side of the m and n. 

The s/i and wh are taken from a small circle, the sh being 
the left half of the circle and the wh the right, half. They 
are joined in an angular manner. (See lines 13 and 14). 



COMBINATIONS. 



J 



"V^ V^ €\ ±- 



C_ 



A-x k-s 



^ 1/ v/ 



ZL I_ A U 



y ■ m "7 






/?-N 



V7 



^ 



n^> V^ ^ ^b /^ "^ ^> ^ 



44 THE NEW RAPID. 



PHONETIC SPELLING. 



Phonetic spelling is one of the fundamental principles of 
short-hand, and means spelling by sound. From this will be 
seen the reason why the alphabet contains more than twenty-six 
letters ; since to spell phonetically it is necessary to have a 
character to represent all the sounds of the language. 

By this method, spelling becomes an easy matter, as words 
are spelled as pronounced and without regard to the regular 
orthography. Thus the word thought would be written thot, 
through would be written thru, etc. 

The object of short-hand is to secure brevity in writing, 
and hence it will be seen that the great importance of phonetic 
spelling lies in the brevity it secures. Thus the word thought, 
which contains seven letters, written phonetically has but four : 
while the word through is correspondingly shortened. 

The object then of Phonetic spelling in the writing of 
short-hand is to secure brevity and simplicity. It is, however, 
none the less valuable in all the methods of writing and 
printing. It would be a great blessing to the world at large if 
Phonetic spelling were in every day use. By it the child could 
learn to read in one-tenth the time required by the present 
method. We would experience no difficulty in the pronun- 
ciation of words, even at first sight. It would banish pro- 
vincialisms, and the English language the world over would 
become uniform in pronunciation and spelling. 

The principle of Phonetic spelling, is so simple and easily 
applied, that it is hardly necessary to give any special rules or 



PRINCIPLES. 



45 



directions ; but since the beginner is very apt to allow the 
common English spelling to mislead him, in some words, we 
give a few lists for the purpose of training the ear and eye to 
a correct knowledge of the sounds contained in words. 



rule: i. 

OMIT ALL SILENT LETTERS. 

CONSONANTS. 



i. — Omit one of double letters. 



will 


wil 


kill 


kil 


loss 


los 


ebb 


eb 


manner 


manr 


matter 


matr 


2. — Omit t. 




often 


ofn 


soften 


sofn 


fasten 


fasn 


listen 


lisn 


3.— Omit 1. 




could 


kud 


would 


wud 


palm 


pam 


walk 


wak 


4. — Omit b. 




lamb 


lam 


climb 


klim 


thumb 


thum 



letter 


letr 


little 


litl 


funny 


funy 


lesson 


lesn 


better 


betr 


ribbon 


ribn 


pitch 


pich 


match 


mach 


kitchen 


kichn 


dispatch 


dispach 


half 


haf 


psalm 


sam 


should 


shud 


chalk 


chak 


plumb 


plum 


debt 


det 


doubt 


dout 



4 6 



THE NEW RAPID. 



s-- 


-Omit n. 






column 


kolm 




hymn 


hym 


6.- 


-Omit c. 






back 


bak 




track 


trak 




sick 


sik 




scent 


sent 




crescent 


kresnt 




muscle 


musl 


7-- 


-Omit gh. 






sleigh 


sla 




taught 


taut 




caught 


kaut 




daughter 


dautr 




slaughter 


slautr 


8.- 


-Omit w. 






write 


rit 




wreck 


rek 




wrong 


rong 




whole 


hoi 




show 


sho 




snow 


sno 


9" 


-Omit k. 






knife 


iiif 




knit 


nit 




knot 


not 


IO. 


—Omit g. 






gnaw 


naw 




gnat 


nat 




sign 


sin 



solemn 


solm 


condemn 


kondm 


shock 


shok 


quick 


quik 


rock 


rok 


descend 


desend 


rescind 


resind 


science 


siens 


weight 


wat 


might 


mit 


sight 


sit 


fright 


frit 


delight 


delit 


written 


ritn 


wrestle 


resl 


wrinkle 


rinkl 


wrangle 


rangl 


throw 


thro 


flow 


no 


know 


no 


knee 


ne 


knell 


nel 


resign 


resin 


design 


desin 


foreign 


forin 







PRINCIPLES. 










VOWELS. 






II. 


— Omit e. 










stole 


stol 


shine 


shin 




same 


sam 


fine 


fin 


12. 


— Omit y. 










say 


sa 


lay 


la 




day 


da 


stay 


stay 




they 


tha 


pray 


pra 


'3 


— Omit one 


of double letters. 








see 


se 


seed 


sed 




tree 


tre 


feed 


fed 




free 


fre 


sheet 


shet 


14- 


— Omit a. 










death 


deth 


boat 


bot 




bread 


bred 


fear 


fer 




earth 


erth 


beast 


best 




each 


ech 


oath 


Oth 


J 5- 


— Omit U. 










soul 


sol 


guild 


gild 




course 


cors 


guise 


g iz 




guide 


gid 


source 


sors 


16. 


—Omit i. 










faint 


fant 


hail 


had 




priest 


pre st 


sail 


sal 




saint 


sant 


mail 


mal 



47 



SUBSTITUTING. 



17. — Substitute u for ew. 

new nu 

crew kru 

few fu 

flew flu 



knew 


nu 


view 


vu 


strew 


stru 


review 


revu 



48 



THE NEW RAPID. 



1 8. — Substitute z for s where the sound is clearly that of z. 
does duz size * siz 

says sez lays laz 

cause kauz lies liz 

19. — Substitute s for c when it represents its soft sound, 
since sins certain sertn 

twice twis office ofis 

force fors justice justis 

20. — Substitute t for ed, since the sound is that of t. 

wished wisht finished finisht 

washed washt fished fisht 

flashed flasht polished polisht 



21. — Substitute 

gem 

gentle 

german 

22. — Substitute 

q 

languish 
languid 

23. — Substitute 
phonetic 
phrase 
alphabet 



j for g and dg. 
jem 

jentl 
jermn 



judge 
bridge 
edge 



brij 



q for gu and gw. Since the u always follows 

it is omitted after the q. 

lanqsh distinguish distinqsh 

lanqd anguish anqsh 

f for ph when ph has the sound of f. 

fonetic philosophy filosofy 

frase phonography fonografy 

alfabet phantom fantom 



DIPHTHONGS. 



joy 


j oy 


annoy 


an oy 


toil 


t oi 1 


alloy 


al oy 


soil 


s oi 1 


employ 


empl oy 


how 


h ow 


flour 


fl ou r 


now 


n ow 


loud 


1 ou d 


plow 


pi ow 


tower 


t ow r 



PRINCIPLES. 49 



POINTS WORTH REMEMBERING. 



I. Write the sounds of words and not the letters. 

II. Write Vowels whenever they are necessary to secure 
legibility. 

III. Write every word as briefly as is consistent with 
legibility. 

IV. Write such outlines as will best preserve legibility 
when written at a high rate of speed. 

V. Write rapidly from the first but never make a stroke 
that is not perfectly legible. 

VI. Write shaded strokes with one sweep of the pen. 

VII. Write derivative words by simply adding to the 
primitive. 

VIII. Write all circles and loops on the inside of carves 
and on the left side of straight lines. 

IX. Write easily, rapidly, legibly, and beautifully. 

X. Study earnestly and diligently. Practice intelligent- 
ly. Persevere or don't attempt. 



THE NEW RAPID. 



VOWEL POSITIONS. 



Consonants are written on positions so as to express the 
following vowel. The vowels are assigned positions above and 
below the base line in their alphabetical order. The middle 
vowel (7) being placed on the base line. 

Consonants are always followed by vowels ; hence they 
are written on these positions, to express a following vowel. 
To write mi, we write m on the base line, as this is the i 
position. To write me, we write m just above the base line, as 
this is the e position ; and so on through the different positions. 
It will be observed that the vowel expressed by the position 
always follows immediately after the first consonant, and that 
this is the only vowel that is expressed by the position. When 
more vowels occur in a word they are written, hence, only the 
first consonant in each word is written on position ; those 
which follow are written without reference to position. 

The learner will remember that all silent letters are 
omitted. Since y final has the same sound as i, it is placed 
on the same position. Each position is assigned but one 
vowel : hence, such words as main and man would be written 
on the same position. It is seldom necessary to make a dis- 
tinction between long and short vowels in such words ; but, 
when it is called for, it is done by placing a minute horizontal 
dash near, the word to indicate long sound of the vowel 
position, and leaving the unmarked stroke to represent short 
sound. (See line 3). 



mi me 



Vowel Positions, 

mo ma mu fi fe fo fa fu 



si se so -sa su ni no nit 



mate mat meet met night nit note not tune tun 



Words. 



s-§ 



^•o 



=*- 



r*. 



^ o J 

— ^^? — 



Sentences, 



~T7 / 7~ *~ 



~^L/ Z7 7~ 



-n^ — ^ — *- 



-#- 



-w- 



-w- 



/ 



52 THE NEW RAPID. 



It is not necessary that the positions occupy much space 
perpendicularly. Owing to the running style of writing pro- 
duced in this system, strokes can be written close to the base 
line and yet express each position very legibly. 

It will be observed that to write on the i position, the 
characters are placed directly on the line. To write on the 
e or o position, they are placed above or below very close to 
the line; and for the farthest positions a and u, the characters 
are written entirely free from the line. 

As a rule, beginners are apt to allow the positions to take 
up too much room. Much time is wasted in moving the hand 
upward or downward when the positions are scattered. 
Lineality in writing is one of the chief essentials towards gain- 
ing a high rate of speed. Since it is important that the 
student realizes this from the beginning, and carries it into 
immediate practice, we have presented the positions from the 
very first in as close a form as they are used in rapid reporting. 



PRINXIPLES. 53 



DIPHTHONG POSITIONS. 



A Diphthong is a coalition or union of two vowel sounds 
pronounced in one syllable. 

The diphthongs are assigned positions so as to coincide 
as near as possible with the vowel sounds found on the same 
position. 

an aw 

They are as follows : — — oi oy 

Oil 01V 

Words are written on these positions the same as on the 
vowel positions, but in order to distinguish them apart a dot 
is used to indicate the diphthongal sound. 

The dot is placed anywhere near the character preced ng 
the diphthongal sound. It will be found after considerable 
practice in writing and reading that the dot can be omitted in 
many cases. The outline of the word aided by the context is 
generally sufficient to render it perfectly legible. 



sa saw by boy no now 

yj ^ _ . 

-/. 1 --O ^^ ^ ±^1 c^L s^2_ 

/r~ — ^ ^ =^T ^ sr- —&* 4~ 



an arc 

02 OV 

Oil OIV 



54 THE NEW RAPID. 



THE R RULE. 



There are certain consonants with which the r unites, 
forming coalescents. The prime object of using the principle 
of shading for r is to write these coalescents with one stroke. 
Hence they are shaded to indicate the immediate presence of 
an r> forming such words as pray, free, try, etc. This secures 
two letters in one stroke which is written on position to express 
the following vowel. (See line 2.) 

Since r coalesces only with the letters/, /, d, p, k, g, b, 
th and s/i, and is expressed by a shade near the center, the 
writer can, if he chooses, shade the beginning of a stroke to 
prefix r, and the end to add r. When r precedes or follows a 
long stroke, as in rise, rain, pair, there, etc., it will be found 
very advantageous to express it in this manner. 

This system, as compared with others, makes very little 
use of shading. When shades are used, howeyer, they play an 
important part, and it is well that the student at the very 
outset learn to write and read them readily. Beginners invari- 
ably shade too heavy. It is not necessary that shaded strokes 
be very thick. In writing with a pencil, which most writers 
use, it is sufficient to simply impart to it a darker hue by a 
light increase of pressure. The student should practice con- 
siderably, reading and writing light shaded strokes. In no 
case should shades be formed by retracing. The student should 
remember that in short-hand all strokes must be formed so that 
they can be written at a high rate of speed, and hence must 
always be written with one sweep of the pen. When r is not 
a coalescent it is generally best to employ the tick. 



PRINXIPLES. 



THE jR RULE. 



/} / 



C/ 



^\ C 



^_P_ 



/. 



V- 



"z: 




Words written from the principle of Coalescent r. 

Tray, tree, try, trow, train, trim, trill, trail, trade, treat, 

trait, trod, trot, dray, dry, drum, drag, drug, dragging, chain, 
dress, drift, draft, free, fry, fro, frame, from, fruit, freight, 
fraught, bridge, brush, brook, brought, bring, braid, grade, 
greed, grind, grow, grown, grain, p'ujf, cry, crew, crow, crude, 
cried, crush, crumb, crimp, cringe, crave, pray, pry, price, 
proud, proof, prate, print, prove, three, threw, through, thrice, 
shrine, shred, shrink, shroud, drudge, drug, crash, crash, crank, 
crisp, cross, crowd, crust, breast, broil, brother, preach, preside, 
principal, prostrate, prudent. 



56 THE NEW RAPID. 



HOOK LETTERS. 



The hook letters b and g are turned on the character to 
which they are attached as a continuation, b is turned on the 
upper side, (see line 1) ; g is turned on the under side, (see 
line 2.) 

These letters are turned as hooks for the purpose of facili- 
tating joinings and rendering the writing easier in execution. 
Sometimes, however, they are joined in their natural alpha- 
betical form. 

The writer should always use whichever is formed the 
easiest and best adapted to the purpose. These hooks do not 
in any way conflict with the sh and wh since the latter are 
joined in an angular manner. (See line 11.) For reasons 
which will be apparent to the learner further along, it is desirble 
to have a similar method of representing their cognates/ and 
k. This is accomplished by using a shorter hook on the 
upper side to represent the/ and on the lower side for the k. 
(See lines 7 and 8.) 

The/ and k being so closely allied in sound to the b and 
g it is not necessary that any great difference be made. More 
than one half the systems in use make no difference what- 
ever between cognates. This system however, preserves a 
distinction in all cases. 



PRINCIPLES. 



57 



but 



bos 



B & G 
bum bok 



sob nob kob 



gan gaz 



<0 



S as fig 



v^ 



peg 



c^ 



C^ 



(s ex <^\ 



-^ 



-^- 



^b 3 £ " ^ ; 

P & ^ 
#z# pin bil pil web 



3 1 



"doep sip 



■-2. -Z 



gav "kav pig pik log 



7<?£. Mz£ 



^~ ^3~ ^> 



-0=^- 



^ ^>- 



J>5 (2r= w# 



JLC- 



^^- 



^ 



v-^ 



58 THE NEW RAPID. 



WORD SIGNS. 



The principles of this system secure such a remarkable 
degree of brevity in writing that word-signs are almost entirely 
done away with. It would be possible to dispense with them 
entirely, but since there are a few words that occur very 
frequently, and which if written out in full would require two 
strokes, it is found expedient to omit one of the letters, and 
express them by a single stroke. 

To the right will be found a complete list of the word- 
signs, which should be thoroughly memorized. These word- 
signs which are accompanied by dotted lines are written on 
the position indicated by the line. Those without lines are 
written irregardless of position. 

The dot is written on four different positions; on a 
position for ah \ on e position for the word the ; on i position 
for I\ and on o position for oh, and owe. 

The vowel stroke for u is used for the word jyw which is 
written irregardless of position. 

It is shaded for the word your. 



PRINCIPLES. 59 

WORD SIGNS. 



The :____. Which __..,.. 



/ Church All <7 

i 

Are ^ Judge After r 

I 
Ash... °..._ If ^ Any ^ 

.Is : .___ .Have ^-^ Every -> 

SENTENCES. 



, __^ .^'hi ^_^^_^ . ^— N _^ ^ 

^ v s -£- ^ - c r -^— x- . * — -jg- 

^ • 7 x — -^ — ^-J^— _ j? y * ^=^ ^ ^ 

— ^ — ^ — ^ ^ c , x 



<^ „ O 



■J ^^— —7 U 7— * -^ ^ /. 

-^ n ^ £ W. 



-o- 



60 THE NEW RAPID. 



SENTENCES. 



He would not take any after all. We all go to the new 
church. I have your hat and cane. You can come #//<?r //. 
Which would you have done? Which one are you after? We 
ze^/r at the chicrch after dark. If I had all that you could give. 

Can you come soon ? When can you send him home ? 
The man went with them to find some one. The same man 
won the race. He gave them all the honor. I knew you 
went with them. Give the reason why you can not do it. I 
want that long line. Since when can you find them. I think 
you might have given them to me. Have you been with them 
long? When do you think they could send him some? 



PRINCIPLES. 6 1 



REVIEW QUESTIONS. 



What are the two fundamental principles of short-hand? 

Why are curves elliptical instead of circular ? 

What advantages, if any, are to be gained by writing a 
small hand ? 

How are the / and s united with curved strokes? On 
which side of straight lines are they turned ? 

In what way can the r and another letter be expressed in 
one stroke? 

How is the r written before another letter, expressing both 
in one stroke ? How is it written after another character, ex- 
pressing both in one stroke ? 

What is Phonetic spelling ? What are the advantages to 
be gained by spelling phonetically? 

How many vowel positions are there ? How distinguish 
long vowel sounds from the short when writing on position ? 

How many word-signs are there? Name them. What 
ones are written irregardless of position ? How many of the 
word-signs are shaded strokes ? 

How is b turned on other characters as a hook? On what 
side is g turned as a hook? What does the hook on the 
upper side represent, when written a trifle shorter? What 
the hook on the lower side? How do you distinguish these 
hooks when turned on other letters from sh and wh ? 

How many sounds are there in the word taught ? How 
would this word be written ? 

In writing with a pen how should it be held in order to 
shade strokes without a change of position ? 

How often should the Plate exercises be written and read? 



02 THE NEW RAPID. 



The foregoing principles will enable one to write the 
English language in full at least four times as fast as can be 
done with common long-hand. But in order to write as 
rapidly as one speaks, it must be capable of being written 
about six times as fast as long-hand. The principles which 
follow are for the purpose of securing brevity and increasing 
speed. They are few and simple, but of great importance, and 
must be thoroughly mastered. 

The first principle made use of is the lengthening of long 
characters. 

PRINCIPLE FIRST. 



The long characters and hook letters b, g, sh and wh are 
lengthened to add m or n. 

In lengthening these characters care should be taken to 
add simply enough in length to render them perfectly legible. 
About one-third longer than the normal size is sufficient. It 
will be observed that the vowel expressed by the position con- 
tinues to follow immediately after the first consonant; and 
hence the added m or n is always read after the vowel. 

In permitting the characters to undergo these different 
changes, it is necessary that the relative sizes be preserved. 

In such words as simon, lemon, etc., the final n blends so 
closely with the ?n, that it is desirable to express it by a similar 
principle. Therefore long letters are superlengthened to add 
mn. (See lines 13 and 14). To superlengthen a stroke, it is 
made double the alphabet length. 



PRINCIPLES. 



63 



LONG LETTERS. 



/ 



/-o 



.•^p 



"7 ^-7 / 
. J 



^L. 



\ 



4?- 



/? 



^ 



^7~ 



/? 



4^ 



^~ 



V 



^ 



64 THE NEW RAPID. 



Words Written by the Lengthening Principle. 

Name, nine, noon, nun, names, same, seem, sin, soon, sun, 
seems, summer, sinner, van, vine, vum, home, hum, him, hem,. 
ham, homes, hammer, lame, lane, lean, line, lone, lanes, lines, 
limbs, wine, wun, wines, want, went, wind, winner, pan, pen y 
pin, pun, paint, pint, pond, pens, pannel, them, than, thin, 
thumb, Jane, John, Jim, June, Genesee, reason, raisin, risen, 
rosen, ripen, raven, gain, gone, gun, gum, begin, begim, been, 
bun, banner, shame, shine, shone, shun, when, whi?n, whine, 
whom. 

SENTENCES. 



John sent him nine pens this winter. 

Since when did they send them ? 

Is that the reason why Simon went home then? 

What do you think he will send? 

This is the gentleman to whom you lent nine dollars last 
summer. 

How long do you think it will take him? 

The gentleman whom you sent after these pens is a fine 
penman. 

Have you seen John's new pen? 

This long line which I have was sent to James. 

I will send him some of these since he was so kind to me. 



PRINCIPLES. 65 



REVIEW QUESTIONS. 



Does the added m or n come before or after the vowel 
position. 

How many different classes of letters are there ? 

For what are long letters lengthened ? Superlengthened? 

How much longer than the regular length should a stroke 
be made to express m or n? To express mn ? 

Is j a long letter ? Can it be lengthened to express m or n ?' 

How do you express the r in such words as reason, risen,, 
ripen, rack, etc. ? What surface characters are lengthened 
to add m or n ? 



66 THE NEW RAPID. 



PRINCIPLE SECOND. 



Short Characters Shortened to add m or n. 

Most of the short characters are vowels, and hence words 
in which these occur are written on position to express the 
next vowel in the word. Thus, to write the word invent, we 
write minute i which expresses the n, and then write long v on 
the e position adding the /. Words in which the only vowel 
is initial, such as in, it, an, on, etc., are written regardless of 
position. 

The r, / and ch are minute ticks and are never changed 
in length. 

Since the / and d are generally drawn downwards, we take 
advantage of their reversible nature and strike them upwards 
to add in or n. (See lines 6, 7 and 8). 

The words in, an and on are written from this principle, 
regardless of position. 



PRINCIPLES. 



6 7 



_y v. 



^ 



-y — 7- 



-^6 



P 



-£=r 



8— ^~ 






J> 



~^~ 



^ ^^ 



-^^ 



J— V 



^ 



1/ 



^~*T 



J 



-v 






-(S^^^^X 



68 THE NEW RAPID. 



Words Written by the Shortening Principle. 

Man, main, men, mean, ??ioon, mum, mens, moons, manner, 
miner, kind, cans, comes, mankind, fan, find, foam, fun, fans, 
invent, insane, income, inland, infer, inmate, tame, teem, time, 
tune, times, tunes tanner, tuner, dame, dum, dine, done, dimes, 
domes, dinner, tied, tried, treat. 



SENTENCES. 



The man went down town after his dinner. 

Can't you give me ten times as much? 

In an hour or two he will come. 

The man was no doubt insane. 

Can you teach him to write next winter ? 

Can I see him in time to go down there before noon ? 

I can now write ten times as fast as I could. 



PRINCIPLES. 69 



REVIEW QUESTIONS. 



What letter or letters is added to T and D when written 
upwards. 

Does this principle apply in such words as treat, tread, 
tried, etc ? 

For what are short letters made half length ? 

What are the tick letters? Are they ever changed in 
length ? 

What three small words are • written regardless of 
position ? 

How do we know the direction in which / and d are 
written when standing alone. 



70 THE NEW RAPID. 



PRINCIPLE THIRD. 



The surface characters b, g, sh, wh, I and s are enlarged 
to add / or d. 

It may appear to the learner as being rather indefinite to 
allow either t or d to be expressed or as in the preceding lesson 
m or n. But after a little experience in writing and reading 
it will be found that there are very few cases where the same 
outline will produce words that are liable to conflict. When 
such words do arise, however, the writer should not hesitate to 
add / or d or any other letter when legibility requires it. 

This system, as compared to others, is very free from 
representing different words with the same outline. It will be 
observed that what few are written alike are those that are 
almost identical in pronunciation. 

The learner should exercise the same care in enlarging 
these characters proportionally as in the writing of the long 
and short letters. 

The circle s enlarged adds /, making the coalescent st 
which is written on position for the following vowel. (See 
line 7). On other surface characters the expressed t or d 
always follows after the vowel position. 

The surface character / does not stand alone since it is 
used for the word all. To write the words lay, lie, low, etc. , 
the long / is employed. 



n 



PRINCIPLES. 

C s V 



71 



_A V_ 



-ff~ 



^2_ 



/) 



O 



(J 



J^ O 



/? 



o 



o 



-n- 



<> 



~sT 



-(+- 



C^ 






C 



2 



D 



C 



c 



G 



^ 



7^ 



^ 



5_^Z> i^2_ 



/^ 



^^ "y^~ 



Tr 



9 



-G- 



O 



o 



O 



~c^ 



O 



O 



O 



o 



o 



o 



a_ 



d~^ 



-o^ 



-^=0- 



o_ 



vX> 



^ 



p 



_D 



^ — <^ 



o\ 



-o=^ 



_D 






_D_ 



._D 



11 A_ 



4> 



^V- 



w ^O 



>> -° 



^ 



Sentences. 

& — x — "V o 



Q_ 



" 3 / V 



_G_ 



A^ 



^r 



^r 



y ^ 



O 



-^D- 



^^ 



XL 



72 THE NEW RAPID. 



Words Written by the Enlarging Principle. 

Bat, bet, bed, bit, bid, bought, but, better, bitter, butter, 
'gate, get, guide, good, gaiter, shade, shed, shut, should, white, 
what, wheat, sold, sailed, hold, held, halt, wild, wield, piled, 
called, cold, killed, stain, stem, stone, sticn, stove, stave, star, 
stir, stop, steep, stole, stale, still, steal, sticks, most, mist, mast, 
must, fast, fist, feast, cast, coast, vast, vest, west, host, waste, 
hast, last, least, lost, past, post, just, jest, out, outwork, 
outline. 

REVIEW QUESTIONS. 



III. What are the surface characters? How many are 
there ? Name them. For what are they enlarged ? Does the 
expressed t or d follow immediately after the consonant or the 
vowel position ? How in the case of large s ? How write 
such words as lad, led and /// ? 

How write such words as, stale, stood, and straight. 



PRINCIPLES. 73 



SENTENCES WRITTEN BY THE ENLARGING 
PRINCIPLE. 



It is better to be good than to be great. 

The butter was lost or stolen. 

They were almost wild over the last storm. 

The colt stepped on the bat and killed it. 

We stopped and looked on the vast mountain of stone. 

They sailed up Salt river last June. 

Peter was a great and good man. 

I thought the bat was a night bird. 

We bought a better boat. 

He was brought here after night. 

You should not stop so soon. 

How short the winter is out west. 

You should be good no matter what happens. 



74 THE NEW RAPID. 

PRINCIPLE FOURTH. 

Surface Characters Diminished to add /. 

The learner will doubtless understand now why the b and 
g are' represented by surface characters, and also the importance 
of having a similar way of expressing the/ and k. The letter 
/ unites with these consonants forming the coalescents bl, gl, 
pi, kl, fl and si. The initial letters being represented by 
surface characters, they are simply written a trifle smaller to 
add the /, thus expressing them both with one small character. 
(See lines i, 2 and 3). It will be observed that the expressed / 
always follows after the consonant. When a vowel intervenes, 
as in gale, bale, etc., both consonants are written. 

Should the learner experience any difficulty in reading 
his writing, to distinguish the pi from the bl or the kl from the ■ 
gl, he can use the b and g in their alphabetic form, i. e., 
joining them in an angular manner, and express the p and k 
by the turned hooks. (See line 10). 

The s is diminished to add / only when medial and final. 
(See line 13). The writing of initial coalescent si comes under 
the "s" coalescents which will be explained in a following- 
lesson. 

The / diminished makes / precede instead of adding /, 
thus writing all of the / coalescents by the diminishing 
principle. 

The sh and wh being surface characters, also come under 
this diminishing rule ; but since the / never unites with them, 
forming coalescents, they are written on position to express the 
intervening vowel, making the words sh a 11, wh i le, etc. 

The diphthongs being surface characters are also di- 
minished to add /. 



O V 



PRINCIPLES. 
3 O A " v 



75 



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*]6 THE NEW RAPID. 



Words Written from the Diminishing Principle of 
Surface Characters. 
Blue, blow, blame, bloom, bless, bliss, blade, bleat, blind, 
blend, blond, fable, Mable, noble, nimble, sable, symbol, 
thimble, pebble, table, lible, cable, bible, bubble, gabble, bleach, 
blush, plain, place, please, plus, pledge, plead, plod, plight, 
pluck, plate, plot, play, ply, sample, couple, people, example, 
steeple, staple, apple, chapel, glue, glow, glean, glimmer, glad, 
glide, gland, glass, gloss, glove, mingle, single, giggle, goggles, 
dangle, wrangle, wiggle, tingle, clay, dice, claim, climb, clan, 
clown, class, close, clip, cleave, clove, cloth, clear, club, clog, 
sickle, nickle, knuckle, chuckle, pickle, fickle, tackle, oil. 

REVIEW QUESTIONS. 



For what are surface characters diminished ? What is the 
difference between pi and bl? How write the coalescenty?? 
What is the difference between the writing of the words pale 
and play? How write the coalescent si? With how many 
letters does / coalesce? Can the diphthongs be diminished 
to add /? 



PRINCIPLES. 77 



SENTENCES WRITTEN BY THE DIMINISHING 
PRINCIPLE. 



It was a splendid place to play. 

We found the place plain and pleasant. 

There is a deep plot in the play. 

Beautiful plates of brass were seen. 

Please lay the thimble on the table. 

The flame flashed fearfully. 

The beautiful bird flew into the flame and was killed. 

The delightful glow and glimmer of the summer sun. 

The clown pleased the people. 



78 THE NEW RAPID. 



COALESCENT S. 



This letter unites with n, m, p, k, t, I, ^, /and w. Unlike 
the coalescent r and /, it comes first, coalescing with the 
following letter forming such words as smile, spy, stain, etc. 

In order that these coalescents may be written, as the / 
and r, from a principle universal in its application, we turn 
the circle very small on the letter with which s unites as a 
coalescent. 

When s coalesces with a consonant at the end of a word, 
as in desk, wisp, etc., each letter forming the coalescent is 
written in its natural form. 

The triplets spl and spr are written from the same 
principle, s being turned on pi for spl, and on the pr for spr. 
(See line 9). 

The circle for coalescent s should be very small. If it is 
so small as to practically result in a dot, it will be found 
equally as legible, and less likely to conflict with the natural 
form of s. 



PRINCIPLES. 



-9 



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J_ 



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So THE NEW RAPID. 

Words Written from the Principle oe Coalescent s. 
Skate, sketch, skiff, skill, skim, skimming, skip, skipper, 
skull, sky, scale, scalp, scan, scandal, scant, scape, scheme, 
school school-house, scold, score, scowl, scramble, scrape,, 
scream, screen, scribble, scrub, script, slain, slim, slander^ 
slant, slate, slaughter, sled, sledge, sleep, sleigh, slide, slight^ 
sling, slip, slipper, slope, sloth, slouch, slowly, sluggard, slumber^ 
slush, small, smart, smash, smear, sine 11, smile, smith, smoke, 
smooth, smother, smuggle, smoidder, snail, snake, snap, ^nare, 
snarl, snatch, sneak, sneer, sneeze, snipe, snore, snow, snub, 
snuff, snug, snugly. 

Spy, space, span, spangle, Spanish, spar, sparkle, spasm, 
speak, spear, special, specimen, speckle, speculation, speech, 
speed, spell, spend, spike, spindle, spine, spinning, spirit, spirit- 
teal, splendor, spleen, splash, splice, splint, splinter, split, splut- 
ter, sponge, spoon, spoonful, sport, spot, spout, sprain, sprang, 
spray, spread, spree, spright, spring, sprout, sprinkle, spruce, 
sprung, squab, squabble, squall, square, squash, squeak, squeeze, 
squint, squirm, squirrel, stain, steam, stone, stack, staff, stage, 
stagger, stale, stall, stamp, stanch, stand, standard, standing, 
staple, star, starch, starlight, start, starve, state-room, states: 
man, station, statistics, stump, stumble, stupid, style, stylish, 
statute, stead, instead, steal, steam, steamship, steep, steeple, 
steer, stencil, stenographer, step, stem, stick, stifle, stile, stimu- 
lation, sting, stipple, stir, stitch, stock, stoop, store, stout, strain, 
straight, stranger, straw, streak, stream, street, strength, stride, 
sfrike, string, strive, stroll, struck, strong, struggle, strung, 
sphere, sphinx, spherical, suation, suasive, swamp, swan, 
swarm, sway, swear, sweat, sweep, sweet, sweel, swift, swim,, 
swimmer, swindle, swing, switch. 



PRINCIPLES. 



REVIEW QUESTIONS. 



With how many letters does the letter s coalesce ? 

How are the triplets spr and spl written ? 

What is the difference between the writing of the words 
spy and sip ? 

Is the coalescent st written from this principle ? 

How is the triplet str written ? 

Does it matter how small the s circle is made for the 
coalescents ? 

What sound has the u in the words suation, and snasive. 



$2 THE NEW RAPID. 



THE DOWNWARD PRINCIPLE, 



Since there are no perpendicular curves and all slanting 
letters, excepting y and q, are written to the right in 
a running manner, they can be written downwards and more 
uprightly, which is done to add a / or d. 

This principle gives the vowels a wonderful writing power, 
as they are so frequently followed by / and d. 

The // and w are seldom written downwards owing to their 
likeness to the y and q when so written. The frequent occuring 
words, had, heard, would, and word, and the ending ward are 
about the^only ones in which the downward principle is applied 
to the h and w. 

The prefixes inter, enter, and under are all written from 
this principle without reference to position. (See lines 9, 10 
and 11.) 

The shade is omitted in the word herewith and written by 
simply a downward compound curve. (See line 14.) 

The shade is also omitted in the word children. (See 
line 11.) 

The w in the word with can be struck either upwards or 
downwards. 



PRINCIPLES. 



83 



THE DOWNWARD PRINCIPLE. 



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3 J 



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84 THE NEW RAPID. 



REVIEW QUESTIONS. 

ON THE DOWNWARD PRINCIPLE. 



What class of characters are written downward to add t 
or d? 

In what words are the h and w written downwards ? 

Why not always write them downwards when followed by 
/ and d. 

How is the phrase would be written ? 

Is the word and written on any particular position ? 

Should it is and it will be phrased ? 

How write the words enter and tender ? 

Are they written on any particular position ? 

How is the d expressed in the word children ? 

How is the word herewith written ? 

In what two words is the shade omitted ? 



PRINCIPLES. 85 



MISCELLANEOUS WORDS AND SENTENCES FOR 
PRACTICE. 



I O a of to in is it he be by or as at we my on ye me no us go an if do 
The and for are but all not thy our God you will had see full out his 
this who can how man may has won now yes 

That with from have they more theirs them there shall thou will upon 
worcl Lord when great other were been part truth every world most where 
time give after first come under work like your ever unto into thee which 
what those would state very some where make think people dear sir never 
write words love over place believe because pleasure president amount 
business between chairmen another thought human knowledge particular 

How little we think of the happiness of others in this 
world. 

Live as though you were to die to-morrow ; learn as 
though you were to live forever. 

Think twice before you speak and you will have less to 
regret every day of your life. 

Let those keep silence who can speak no good. 

What is worth doing at all, is worth doing well ? 

To succeed in life you must understand and mind your 
own business. 

Seek not after those things of this world which are here 
to-day but gone to-morrow. 



86 THE NEW RAPID. 



EXPEDIENT PRINCIPLES. 



Since the s circle is always turned on the regular side of 
strokes, we make use of the irregular side to express 
ts or ds } that is, s circle turned on the irregular side makes 
/ or d precede. (See lines i, 2 and 3). 

s initial on the irregular side expresses the common pre- 
fix (it's. (See lines 4 and 5). 

The same rule applies to the / which is turned on the 
irregular side for //and dl. (See lines 6, 7 and 8). 

Characters are retraced for T/i. (See line 9). 

The retracing is shaded for r. (See line 10). 

When the retracing does not write easily the stroke is 
used. (See line 11). 

b is joined in an angular manner for the syllable be and 
the word written on position to express the next vowel. (See 
line 12). 

The / is written in a perpendicular manner to express /. 

The b and g can also be written upright for the same 
purpose. (See line 14). 

The /, b and g are sloped backwards to add sh. (See 
line 15). 



PRINCIPLES. 



37 



EXPEDIENT PRINCIPLES. 



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88 THE NEW RAPID. 



REVIEW QUESTIONS. 

ON THE EXPEDIENT PRINCIPLES. 



What is the regular side of curved strokes ? What is the 
regular side of straight lines ? What is the regular side of m 
and 11 ? 

For what is the circle s turned on the irregular side 
initially? What finally? 

Is the / ever written on the irregular side ? 

How is th expressed when the stroke will not join well ? 

How would you write the word farther and further ? 

For what is / written in a perpendicular manner? Are b 
and g ever written in this manner? 

When are the b, g and / sloped backwards. 

How would you write the word flash ? 

F"or what is b joined in an angular manner initially? 

How write the words, becaicse, became and become ? 

Ans. — By turning the b on the upper side- as a hook. 

Are these three words exceptions to the general rule ? 



PRINCIPLES. 89 

SUGGESTIONS OX OUTLINING WORDS. 



One of the most essential things in connection with the 
mastery of short-hand is securing outlines that are legible, 
uniform in formation, and easy to write. It is possible for a 
great many words to be written in different ways, and in some 
cases with a beginner it may be a question as to which is the 
best outline to adopt. 

There are three general laws to be observed in the out- 
lining of every word. First, that of- legibility '■; second, ety- 
mological relation; and third, simplicity of outline. Every 
word which the student outlines himself should first be tested 
by outlining it in accordance with these three laws, and then 
adopting the best form, every thing being considered. 

Legibility should always be considered first, for without 
this the other qualities though existing in their highest degree, 
have no value whatever. 

Second, the preserving of anology should be considered 
in the writing of all words, by treating them as either primitive 
or derivative, and forming the outlines so as to preserve 
harmony through all the etymological relations. 

The third test to be made, is to see that the outline is one 
that can be executed easily and is of such mechanical formation 
as will not deteriorate in rapid writing. 

These three laws upon which rests all that is practicable 
in short-hand writing are interwoven into every principle of 
the system, and it is these ever-existing powers that makes this 
system so legible, philosophical and easy in formation. 

The student should be careful not to practice on miscel- 
laneous matter outside of the text book until he has thoroughly 
mastered all the principles of the system. By strictly observing 
this he will not be troubled with unlearning long alphabetical 
outlines when new principles are explained and approved out- 
lines given. 



90 THE NEW RAPID. 



THE " F" ENDINGS. 



On the right hand page is given a full list of the different 
y endings. The y is expressed by the i which is written either 
upwards or downwards. (See line i). 

Ty and dy are expressed by a short i or in other words it 
is the / curved slightly. (See line 3). 

The y is added after any circle or loop by allowing the 
line to pass over the stem. (See lines 5, 6, 7 and 8). 

In the endings by and My the i is joined in a continuous 
manner without an angle. (See lines 9 and 10). 

The difference between My and blty is in the length of 
the i. (See lines 10 and 11) 

The i is omitted in the ending fy and the f is increased in 
curvature slightly to express final /or y. (See line 12). 

The /^endings occupy lines 13, 14, 15 and 16. 

In these endings the detached character is written on a 
line with the preceding stroke. 

The / is written in a horizontal manner for ingly. 



PRINCIPLES. 

THE "F" ENDINGS. 



9i 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



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92 THE NEW RAPID. 



REVIEW QUESTIONS. 

ON THE y ENDINGS. 



What is the difference between the endings y and ty ? 

Is there any difference between ty and dy ? 

How is y expressed after a circle or loop ? 

How is it expressed after b and bl? 

What is the difference between bly and blty ? 

How write/)' ? 

What is the difference between tng and ington ? 

How is the / written in ingly ? 

What is the relative position of the tng endings? 







PRINCIPLES. 




93 




Words ending in 


y- 




foamy 


enemy 


slimy 


palmy 


gummy 


ffiumm 


economy 


astronomy 


bloomy 


army 


stormy 


company 


botany 


progeny 


rainy 


shiny 


tiny 


mutiny 


tyranny 


Jenny 


penny 


bonny 


sunny 


bony 


felony 


colony 


ceremony 


matrimony 


testimony 


harmony 


stony 


thorny 


puny 


downy 


tiny 




Words ending in 


ry. 




chicanery 


scenery 


machinery 


millinery 


nunnery 


drapery 


slippery 


nursery 


slavery 


knavery 


bravery 


thievery 


revery 


roguery 


livery 


delivery 


silvery 


query 


bowery 


dowery 


showery 


flowery 


belfry 


dairy 


fairy 


hairy 


miry 


inquiry 


cavalry 


chivalry 


rivalry 


hostelry 


revelry 


yeomanry 


sultanry 


captainry 


canonry 


masonry 


blazonry 


theory 


gory 


allegory 


category 


glory 


memory 


armory 












Words ending in 


sy. 




easy 


greasy 


apostasy 


heresy 


courtesy 


daisy 


noisy 


palsy 


flimsy 


clumsy 


pansy 


tansy 


quinsy 


posy 


rosy 


dyspepsy 


gipsy 


tipsy 


dropsy 


massy 


grassy 


glossy 


busy 


drowsy 






Words ending in 


cy. 


\ 


legacy 


fallacy 


supremacy 


primacy 


legitimacy 


intimacy 


pharmacy 


subordinacy 


effeminacy 


obstinacy 


lunacy 


democracy 


aristocracy 


piracy 


accuracy 


fleecy 


prophecy 


secrecy 


icy 


policy 


spicy 


juicy 


vacancy 


dependency 


fancy 


infancy 


brilliancy 


luxuriancy 


malignancy 


repugnancy 


occupancy 


bankruptcy 


fragrancy 


vagrancy 


expectancy 



94 



THE NEW RAPID. 



hesitancy 


instancy 


constancy 


incumbency 


decency 


complacency 


presidency 


ascendency 


pedency 


tendency 


despondency 


ardency 


agency 


exigency 


pungency 


emergency 


deficiency 


sufficiency 


proficiency 


expediency 


excellency 


indolency 


corpulency 


vehemency 


clemency 


inclemency 


eminency 


pertinency 


indifferency 


currency 


competency 


incompetenc) 


T potency 


impotency 


consistency 


persistency 


existency 


insolvency 


fluency 


frequency 


delinquency 


idiocy 


mercy 








Words ending 


in sty. 




yeasty 


hasty 


dynasty 


pasty 


modesty 


immodesty 


majesty 


honesty 


resty 


misty 


frosty 


thirsty 


dusty 


gusty 


musty 


crusty 


pastry 


ancestry 


tapestry 


registry 


sophestry 


ministry 


industry 








Words ending 


in ity. 




falsity 


immensity 


propensity 


intensity 


verbosity 


curiosity 


animosity 


generosity 


adversity 


diversity 


university 


perversity 


necessity ■ 


mendacity 


sagacity 


pugnacity 


capacity 


veracity 


vivacity 


felicity 


simplicity 


eccentricity 


electricity 


authenticit) 


T elasticity 


velocity 


ferocity 


atrocity 


scarcity 






Words ending 


in ely. 




basely 


precisely 


concisely 


wisely 


falsely 


immensely 


intensely 


jocosely 


closely 


loosely 


purposely 


morosely 


coarsely 


adversely 


diversely 


conversely 


perversely 


transverse" 


ly diffusely 


profusely 


abstrusely 


obtusely 










Words ending 


in sly. 




heedlessly 


needlessly 


regardlessly 


lifelessly 


blamelessly 


uselessly 


harmlessly 


helplessly 


fearlessly 


thoughtlessly 


expressly 


grossly 


courageously 


advantageously 


erroneously " 







PRINCIPLES. 




95 


righteously 


plenteously 


bounteously 


sagaciously 


graciously 


preciously 


judiciously 


maliciously 


deliciously 


perniciously 


studiously 


religiously 


harmoniously 


piously 


variously 


seriously 


mysteriously 


gloriously 


meritoriously 


notoriously 


curiously 


furiously 


injuriously 


luxuriously 


licentiously 


consciencously cautiously 


obviously 


previously 


enviously 


anxiously 


jealously 


zealously 


marvellously 


frivolously 


scrupulously 


famously 


enormously 


ravenously 


ruinously 


poisonously 


pompously 


dangerously 


vigorously 


dexterously 


vigorously 


humorously 


monstrously 


gratuitously 


conspicuously 


promiscously 


assiduously 


mischievously 


grievously 


strenuously 


virtuously 












Words ending in ly. 




freely 


safely 


largely 


hugely 


likely 


solely 


lamely 


namely 


tamely 


supremely 


extremely 


timely 


comely 


homely 


handsomely 


wholesomely 


wearisomely 


quarrelsomely 


cumbersomeb 


f profanely 


humanely 


obscenely 


serenely 


finely 


genuinely 


lonely 


barely 


rarely 


warely 


sincerely 


merely 


severely 


entirely 


securely 


surely 


purely 


maturely 


requisitely 


exquisitely 


oppositely 


remotely 


absolutely 


resolutely 


bravely 


harshly 


fourthly 


daily 


gaily 


readily 


steadily 


needily 


speedily 


greedily 


bodily 


helpfully 


luckily 


lively 


family 


homily 


happily 


primarily 


summarily 


ordinarily 


necessarily 


voluntarily 


verily 


merily 


weakly 


sickly 


quickly 


neatly 


darkly 


medically 


morally 


sensually 


actually 


punctually 


perpetually 


loyally 


royally 


jelly 


chilly 


silly 


folly 


holly 


wholly 


coolly 


woolly 


firmly 


leanly 


cleanly 


meanly 


manly 


womanly 


humanly 


suddenly 


greenly 


openly 


heavenly 


ungainly 


plainly 


certainly 


thinly 


solemnly 


only 


commonly 


deeply 


early 


dearly 


clearly 


nearly 


yearly 


tenderly 


orderly 


eagerly 



9 6 


THE NEW RAPID. 




fatherly 


motherly 


brotherly 


southerly 


formerly 


mannerly 


properly 


easterly 


masterly 


westerly 


sisterly 


fairly 


poorly 


hourly 






Words ending in tty. 




ultimately 


intimately 


proximately 


subordinately 


obstinately 


fortunately 


unfortunately 


separately 


deliberately 


moderately 


temperately 


desperately 


stately 


privately 


adequately 


completely 


politely 


definitely 


infinitely 


sweetly 


quietly 


secretly 


swiftly 


softly 


lightly 


slightly 


nightly 


knightly 


brightly 


sprightly 


tightly 


unfitly 


scantly 


abundantly 


redundantly 


extravagantly 


elegantly 


arrogantly 


gallantly 


petulantly 


ignorantly 


pleasantly 


incessantly 


instantly 


constantly 


decently 


recently 


magnificently 


confidently 


evidently 


providently 


ardently 


prudently 


gently 


negligently 


diligently 


sufficiently 


expediently 


conveniently 


silently 


excellently 


indolently 


violently 


insolently 


vehemently 


permanently 


eminently 


pertinently 


apparently 


differently 


reverently 


currently 


presently 


competently 


penitently 


intently 


potently 


consistently 


frequently 


subsequently 


fervently 


faintly 


saintly 


quaintly 


jointly 


bluntly 


promptly 


abruptly 


corruptly 


smartly 


partly 


shortly 


courtly 








Words 


ending in d 


y and ty. 




ready 


giddy 


muddy 


needy 


speedy 


remedy 


comedy 


tidy 


candy 


dandy 


handy 


sandy 


brandy 


windy 


moody 


hardy 


wordy 


piety 


ninety 


lofty 


eighty 


almighty 


naughty 


laity 


city 


rapidity 


rotundity 


commodity 


deity 


calamity 


sublimity 


proximity 


enmity 


deformity 


uniformity 


conformity 


Christianity 


humanity 


sanity 


vanity 


dignity 


malignity 


vicinity 


trinity 


sanguinity 


divinity 


solemnity 


maternity 


fraternity 


eternity 


opportunity 


charity 


rarity 


sincerity 


purity 


maturity 











PRINCIPLES. 



97 



Words ending in dry and try. 



laundry 

wintry 

geometry 



cheaply 

imply 

probably 

agreeably 

variably 

reasonably 

innumerably 

indispensably 

comfortably 

audibly 

invisibly 

nobly 

lobby 

whereby 



rarefy 

edify 

mollify 

dignify 

typify 

petrify 

ratify 

certify 

beautify 



facing 
lading 
bidding 



foundry 
country 
poetry 



sundry 

pedentry 

symmetry 



entry 

pantry 

idolatry 



Words ending in ply, bly and by. 



haply 

simply 

applicably 

changeably 

availably 

treasonably 

admirably 

profitably 

immovably 

legibly 

sensibly 

shabby 

stubby 



deeply 

comply 

amicably 

chargeably 

blamably 

seasonably 

memorably 

suitably 

feebly 

terribly 

possibly 

baby 

by and by 



reply 
apply 

commend ably 
moveably 
- doubly 
irreparably 
durably 
accoutably 
invincibly 
horribly 
convertibly 
flabby 
hereby 



Words ending in fy. 



liquefy 

modify 

nullify 

indemnify 

clarify 

putrify 

gratify 

fortify 

satisfy 



pacify 

deify 

amplify 

'signify 

verify 

purify 

rectify 

mortify 



specify 

qualify 

exemplify 

personify 

glorify 

falsify 

sanctify 

testify 



Words ending in ing. 

piercing leading pleading 

trading padding wadding 

wedding pudding proceeding 



sentry 
infantry 



multiply 

supply 

peaceably 

justifiably 

pardonably 

miserably 

measurably 

notably 

forcibly 

visibly 

humbly 

hobby 

thereby 



crucify 

disqualify 

ramify 

stupefy 

terrify 

diversify 

notify 

justify 



reading 
bedding 
preceding 



9 8 



THE NEW RAPID. 



exceeding 


bleeding 


breeding 


biding 


riding 


building 


golding 


holding 


landing 


standing 


understanding 


misundersf 


ding pending 


notwithstanding binding 


winding 


sounding 


foreboding 


according 


seeing 


all-seeing 


lodging 


obliging 


disobliging 


hanging 


swinging 


longing 


catching 


watching 


fishing 


pushing 


something 


clothing 


nothing 


plaything 


speaking 


sneaking 


taking 


undertaking 


painstaking 


pricking 


rocking 


stocking 


striking 


thinking 


husking 


dealing 


plain-dealing 


healing 


shambling 


peddling 


feeling 


prevailing 


wailing 


ceiling 


tiling 


inkling 


twinkling 


calling 


compelling 


swelling 


dwelling 


shilling 


willing 


darling 


yearling 


sterling 


scantling 


nestling 


seeming 


trimming 


plumbing 


becoming 


charming 


alarming 


assuming 


gleaning 


meaning 


gardening 


opening 


christening 


evening 


designing 


entertaining 


lining 


repining 


winning 


cunning 


reckoning 


reasoning 


learning 


warning 


concerning 


discerning 


morning 


burning 


lightning 


awning 


yawning 


going 


keeping 


chipping 


shipping 


dripping 


tripping 


chopping 


topping 


daring 


bearing 


hearing 


glaring 


paring 


sparing 


wandering 


offering 


suffering 


gathering 


entering 


muttering 


covering 


airing 


firing 


herring 


during 


coloring 


; surprising 


blessing 


dressing 


beating 


fleeting 


imeeting 


greeting 


fighting 


waiting 


biting " 


-whiting 


writing 


hand-writing 


slanting 


relenting 


repenting 


fainting 


painting 


bunting 


footing 


excepting 


diverting 


lasting 


assisting 


resisting 


befitting 


sitting 


leaving 


shaving 


saving 


forgiving 


thanksgiving living 


thriving 


loving 


moving 


carving 


starving 


issuing 


drawing 


flowing 


knowing 


saying 


dying 


many things 


few things 


anything 


everything 


all things 


' 



PRINCIPLES. 



99 



Words ending in ingly. 



enticingly 

pretendingly 

revengingly 

laughingly 

mockingly 

shufflingly 

unwillingly 

grinningly 

limpingly 

perseveringly 

surprisingly 

invitingly 

dartingly 

boastingly 

flowingly 



Addington 

Birmington 

Covington 

Harrington 

Millington 

Southington 

Wilmington 



glancingly 

accordingly 

longingly 

diminishingly 

stealingly 

bunglingly 

seemingly 

cunningly 

hopingly 

despairingly 

pressingly 

insultingly 

startingly 

savingly 

knowingly 



piercingly 

drudgingly 

snatchingly 

languishingly 

tremblingly 

sparklingly 

swimmingly 

discerningly 

trippingly 

admiringly . 

guessingly 

enchantingly 

reportingly 

livingly 

amazingly 



exceedingly 

grudgingly 

scratchingly 

sneakingly 

feelingly 

smilingly 

charmingly 

mourningly 

sparingly 

alluringly 

doubtingly 

resentingly 

lastingly 

movingly 



Words ending in ington. 



Arrington 

Blessington 

Darlington 

Huntington 

Paddington 

Torrington 

Worthington 



Arlington 

Bloomington 

Eddington 

Irvington 

Partington 

Warrington 



understandingly 

obligingly 

touchingly 

mistakingly 

triflingly 

willingly 

threateningly 

creepingly 

mutteringly 

pleasingly 

slightingly 

tauntingly 

everlastingly 

observingly 



B arrington 

Cardington 

Farmington 

Kensington 

Readington 

Washington 



Bennington 

Coddington 

Flemmington 

Lexington 

Remington 

Wellington 



IOO THE NEW RAPID. 



SUFFIXES. 



There are certain endings which owing to their frequency 
of occurrence, it is very desirable to contract by a method of 
syllable abbreviation. 

To the right is a full list of the suffixes which are expressed 
by writing their initial letter in a detached manner across or 
near the preceding character. 

The endings ment and sive are joined to the initial part 
of the word without lifting the pen. (See lines 5 and 9). 

The suffix graphically is expressed by the diminished g. 
(See end of line 3). 

O logic ally is expressed by adding the cl hook to the /. 
(See last part of line 7). 

Q is used for both quish and guish. It is lengthened for 
guishment. (See end of line 8). 



PRINCIPLES. 101 

SUFFIXES. 

ENDINGS. SIGN. ILLUSTRATIONS. 

1 age 8 £ <—^-fr ± *-* 

a ary. ar £ 1^. £41 — ^D lt- 

3 grafih-y. g r O Q — (-/ ^& <^x ^ Q — £ Qc 

4 hood. hi ^Z 'tLL ^ , s^P ~^ f£L ^ 

6 ograpky-.--0 ^ ^ /%. Q -V s^ ^ ^ 

r ology^____.J ^ ~>C ^ ^<-^ _^ <?S ^V - 

s g uisk- : -^-a 1 ^ £ ^t / y- y . 

9 sive. s ^~' J "'" £_ ^^ ^-^ ^-<- ^ 

10 ship s/z ^ ^> — e ^ — ys^e yo 

H five. t l v^^ , ^ . _ll ^ ^ 

12 tiveness tu? P ^ ? _^ ^n l^ f ji 

13 tory tary„- tr L ^ ) u-f- ^ — / ^~°-?* ^^ 

14 iude. M / , ~f> ~ /f P , ^ 

15 ttaiion # S= vd \ v x _ _^ V.^- 

16 *£/£_._ J/ ---° ^^ Vq N /V 



THE NEW RAPID. 



REVIEW QUESTIONS. 

ON THE SUFFIXES. 



How is the suffix age expressed ? What is the difference 
between the age and ary signs ? 

What affix does the g sign express." 

How write the suffix graphically ? 

Are the signs written across or near the preceding part of 
a word ? Ans. Whichever is most convenient. 

How is the ending ment expressed ? 

Is it written any different from other signs ? 

Hqw write ology ? How write ologically ? 

In what manner is guishment expressed ? 

What different is the sive ending from other signs ? 

What is the difference between the signs for five and tory ? 

How is tive?iess expressed ? How lively ? 

For what two endings does the tr stand ? 



PRINCIPLES. I03 



HOW TO WRITE EASILY AND RAPIDLY. 



Use a pen, if possible, that is just suited to the hand and 
that will produce a firm steady line when in quick motion. 

Slide the hand easily and naturally across the paper when 
writing. Do not make a pause after each outline, but observe 
that the movement is steady and continuous. ' 

Beginners are apt to spend more time in passing from one 
outline to another than in executing them. This shows how 
important it is to keep outlines close together. If a pencil is 
used instead of a pen, accustom yourself to form light lines, 
otherwise you will find yourself gripping the pencil, which is 
sure to tire the hand and produce poor outlines. In order to 
form the habit of writing in an easy running manner, select a 
familiar sentence containing short words, and write it over and 
over. Strive to keep the hand in continuous motion and 
execute the outlines as it passes across the paper. Write the 
same sentence over again and again, striving to increase the 
rate of speed at each time of writing. Do not allow the mind 
to linger with an outline after it is formed but pass quickly to 
the next. 

Practice this from day to day, selecting more difficult 
matter each time, and practicing it until it can be written 
without a single pause. This method of speed practice con- 
tinued for a short time will produce an easy continuous style 
of writing, and a high rate of speed will be reached almost 
unconsciously. 



104 THE NEW RAPID. 



THE "SHUN" PRINCIPLE. 



One of the most common endings in the language is what 
is known in phonography as shun. It may be spelled in 
English Hon, sion, cion, cian or sian all of which are pro- 
nounced shun. 

This ending is expressed by slightly straightening the sh 
character. (See line i). 

When the shun ending follows a circle or loop the line is 
carried across. (See line 2). 

The shun stroke can be turned in either direction. (See 
line 3). 

When s and / follow the shun as in nations and national 
they are turned on the shun stroke. (See lines 4 and 5). 

tation and dation are expressed by retracing the character 
preceding the shun. (See lines 6 and 7). 

shiashun as in association is expressed by writing the shun 
stroke upwards. (See line 8). 

The / is omitted in the ending ishent. (See line 9). 

In the ending shul the / takes the place of the n in shun 
and hence the sh character is diminished in accordance with 
the diminishing principle to add the /. (See line 10). 

ish is expressed by the sh character which is enlarged in 
accordance with the enlarging principle for isht. (See lines 
11 and 12). 

It frequently occurs that the prefix com and con in long 
words can be omitted, without impairing the legibility. (See 
line 16). 



i slutn_ 
2 sliun 
s shun_ 



4 shuns- 



5 shunl- 



6 t-shun_ 



7 d-shun- 



8 shiashun- 

9 ishent 



10 shul_ 



li is Ji- 



ll isht__ 



PRINCIPLES. 

THE "SHUN" PRINCIPLE. 

— I 1 



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x 



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Io6 THE NEW RAPID, 



REVIEW QUESTIONS. 

ON THE shun PRINCIPLE 



How is the termination shun expressed ? 

How is it written after circles and loops ? 

Can the shun stroke curve in either direction ? 

How are the endings tation and dation expressed ? Does 
this retracing bear any relation to previously established prin- 
ciples ? 

How is the ending shiashun expressed ? 

How is the ending ishent written ? 

What is the difference between the writing of shun/ and 
shid ? 

When can the initial syllable con and com be omitted ? 



PRINCIPLES. 



I07 



abomination 

intonation 

carnation 

alternation 

consternation 

cremation 

intimation 

ordination 

assassination 

consummation 

coordination 

divination 

reformation 

inclination 

donation 

elimination 

personation 

declaration 

regeneration 

veneration 

corroboration 

decoration 

adoration 

perforation 

invigoration 

melioration 

deterioration 

iteration 

corporation 

consideration 

conflagration 

aberration 

toleration 

admiration 

arbitration 



m-nation 
declamation 
acclamation 
amalgamation 
proclamation 
exclamation 
termination 
hallucination 
illumination 
inflammation 
inordination 
predestination 
formation 
declination 
condemnation 
nation 
coronation 



endings, 
stagnation 
indignation 
designation 
resignation 
combination 
fascination 
extermination 
approximation 
preordination 
destination 
confirmation 
machination 
damnation 
transformation 
crimination 
alienation 



ration 
degeneration 
expiration 
oration 
prostration 
illustration 
duration 
obduration 
transfiguration 
inauguration 
exploration 
commemoration 
confederation 
adulteration 
narration 
acceleration 
immigration 
perpetration 
generation 



endings. 

ministration 

administration 

demonstration 

separation 

celebration 

vibration 

desecration 

consecration 

deliberation 

mensuration 

obliteration 

alteration 

restoration 

exaggeration 

emigration 

penetration 

enumeration 

inspiration 



domination 

nomination 

denomination 

incarnation 

germination 

determination 

estimation 

subordination 

procrastination 

affirmation 

imagination 

ruination 

information 

dissemination 

explanation 

culmination 



exhilaration 

reparation 

preparation 

exoneration 

remuneration 

operation 

exasperation 

desperation 

vituperation 

laceration 

evaporation 

incorporation 

moderation 

migration 

insurrection 

conglomeration 

respiration 

concentration 



io8 



THE NEW RAPID. 



exhalation 

legislation 

stipulation 

inflation 

congratulation 

matriculation 

postulation 

inoculation 

constellation 

distillation 

simulation 

stimulation 



facial 

judicial 

artificial 

commercial 

equinoctial 

credential 

differential 

potential 

martial 



occasional 

progressional 

irrational 

conditional 

conventional 

constitutional 

affectation 
lamentation 
permutation 
interpretation 



lation 

contemplation 

accumulation 

revelation 

ejaculation 

assimilation 

recapitulation 

gesticulation 

circulation 

modulation 

violation 

desolation 

consolation 



endings. 

cumulation 

relation 

tribulation 

depopulation 

speculation 

mutilation 

expostulation 

appelation 

vacillation 

emulation 

dissimulation 

granulation 



shul endings. 



glacial 

prejudicial 

superficial 

crucial 

initial 

providential 

reverential 

influential 

partial 



special 

beneficial 

provincial 

ambrosial 

substantial 

prudential 

essential 

consequential 



shunl endings. 



provisional 

congregational 

fractional 

propositional 

notional 



processional 

national 

traditional 

intentional 

devotional 



tation endings. 

plantation salutation 

mutation dictation 

vegetation alimentation 

fermentation reputation 



elation 

translation 

population 

annihilation 

ventilation 

articulation 

cancellation 

adulation 

regulation 

immolation 

isolation 



especial 

official 

social 

controversial 

circumstantial 

pestilential 

penitential 

nuptial 



professional 

rational 

additional 

preventional 

proportional 



expectation 
fomentation 
transmutation 
habitation 



PRINCIPLES. 



I09 



amputation 

representation 

meditation 

adaptation 

temptation 

flirtation 

gravitation 

exaltation 

exultation 



gradation 

consolidation 

foundation 



presentation 

recitation 

rotation 

imitation 

precipitation 

hesitation 

exportation 

devastation 



computation 

ostentation 

premeditation 

acceptation 

dissertation 

importation 

invitation 

consultation 



dativn endings. 



degradation 

commendation 

accommodation 



citation 

notation 

agitation 

limitation 

palpitation 

transportation 

station 

manifestation 



depredation 
recommendation 



elucidation 
inundation 



gation endings. 



propagation 

negation 

obligation 

mitigation 

circumnavigation 

abrogation 

corrugation 



multiplication 

supplication 

communication 

mastication 

suffocation 

avocation 

convocation 

confiscation 



legation 

abnegation 

fumigation 

investigation 

promulgation 

interrogation 



delegation 

aggregation 

irrigation 

instigation 

elongation 

subjugation 



cation endings. 



implication 

explication 

excommunication 

intoxication 

location 

reavocation 

provocation 

education 



complication 

duplication 

prevarication 

defalcation 

dislocation 

equivocation 

altercation 



allegation 
congregation 
litigation 
. navigation 
prolongation 
conjugation 



application 

fornication 

fabrication 

inculcation 

vocation 

invocation 

bifurcation 



II© THE NEW RAPID. 



PREFIXES. 



For the purpose of avoiding some very cumbrous outlines, 
and preserving syllabication, which promotes legibility, signs 
are employed for the representation of the most difficult and 
frequently occurring prefixes. 

To the left is a full list of the prefixes, which are expressed 
by writing the sign, /, <?, the first letter, through or near the 
remaining part of the word. 

The prefixes com-n, re, and self, are written without lift- 
ing the pen. (See lines u, 12 and 13). 

The prefixes are all written without reference to position, 
which allows the latter part of a word to be written on position 
for its vowel. 

A light dot is used for the syllables oc and ac. (See line 
15). A heavy dot is employed in the same manner for the 
syllables ab and ob. 



^discom-n^ 



3 incom-7i_ 



4 miscom-n- 



5 noncom-ii- 



6 precom-ri- 



8 self-con_ 



9 uncom -it- 



13 tt>//* 



14 trans _ 



J5 <7<:-0c - 



PRINCIPLES. 

PREFIXES. 



in 



PREFIX. SIGN. ILLUSTRATIONS. 

accom-n. ^ ^ ^ Zf^, ^ ^ ^L 



_^ 



^-^ 



^ * 



_^ ,A 






* 



<^ 



V^L- 



^ ^ - v 






^7- 



•*-r- ^ 



^ 



_v_ 



-^=3 



^2 ^> 



0^ ^^ 



^5^- 



=^Z6_ 



_rz_ 



~^- 



->- 



^ 






~^- 



/<f 



"* 



*^-P 



-*=v 



112 THE NEW RAPID. 



REVIEW QUESTIONS. 

ON THE PREFIX PRINCIPLE. 



What stroke is taken as the sign of a prefix ? On what 
position is it written ? 

What prefixes are connected with the latter part of a word? 

What is the difference between the writing of re and 
recom ? 

How is ac and oc expressed ? 

What is the difference between the writing of inac and 
incom ? 

Which is it best to write first, the prefix or the latter part 
of the word ? Why ? 

Is the prefix written through or detached from the latter 
part of the word ? 



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■ in 

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